Who is Spanish tennis player Paula Badosa – and why was she accused of racism? The 26-year-old, who’s dating Stefanos Tsitsipas, has been criticised for pulling her eyes back with chopsticks

Oct 9 , 2024

Paula Badosa has gone viral for all the wrong reasons this month. Photos: Instagram

Spanish tennis star Paula Badosa is in hot water after being accused of racism while competing at the China Open – so who is she exactly?

Spanish tennis star Paula Badosa is in hot water, after being accused of racism over a photo that shows her pulling her eyes back with chopsticks.

The Paula Badosa photo that’s causing so much controversy, which has since been deleted from Instagram. Photo: Instagram

Per The Guardian, she was in China for a series of tournaments at the time the pic was taken. Her coach, Pol Toledo, was the one who posted the controversial snap on Instagram and it quickly went viral, adds the source.

Paula Badosa says she has “plenty of Asian friends”. Photo: @paulabadosa/Instagram

In response to the backlash, the 26-year-old athlete wrote on Instagram: “Never thought it would be interpreted in this way we weren’t even imitating Asian people. I was playing around with my face and wrinkles. I love Asia and I have plenty of Asian friends.”

Paula Badosa says she takes “full responsibility” for her actions in her Instagram post. Photo: @paulabadosa/Instagram

In a separate thread on X (formerly Twitter), she apologised to netizens for her actions. “‘I take full responsibility. This mistake will make me learn for next time. Hope you understand … I love you all,” she added.

Here’s what we know about Paula Badosa:

What is Paula Badosa’s background?

Paula Badosa’s parents were both in the fashion industry. Photo: @paulabadosa/Instagram

As per her bio on the Olympics website, Badosa was born in Manhattan, New York to Spanish parents – who come from a fashion background. According to the source, she moved with her family to Barcelona at age seven.