Lorenzo Musetti releases statement after being accused of making racist comments in China
NewsSaturday, 27 September 2025 at 12:00
Lorenzo Musetti landed himself in hot water during his opening-round match at the 2025 China Open in Beijing.
Musetti arrived in Beijing after a heartbreak in Chengdu. He has yet to win a title since 2022, and he has now lost his fifth consecutive final. The Italian player was in tears after losing the final in Chengdu.
But there was no time to be sad for Musetti. He quickly had to travel to Beijing to prepare for the ATP 500 event in the city. There were no first-round byes, so even the fourth seed had to play in the opening round.
His opponent was Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, and the match proved frustrating for Musetti. He had to address a health issue during the match with a medical timeout, and he also failed to serve out the match in the second-set tie-break after earning a mini-break over the big-serving Mpetshi Perricard.
Still, Musetti was able to win the match in three sets, 7-6(3), 6-7(4), 6-4. However, the match was overshadowed by a moment that happened in the second-set tie-break. After losing the one-mini-break advantage that he had, the Italian shouted towards his team, complaining about some of the fans, who were coughing, and probably disturbed him.
"They're always coughing those da*n Chinese. They keep coughing, f**k. They cough every three minutes."
Similarly to the incident in which Taylor Townsend offended the Chinese with her comments about their cuisine, Musetti's comments quickly became viral on Chinese social media platforms.
Obviously, the fans weren't happy about what the 23-year-old player said and felt his remarks were racist. The ATP world No. 9 player, or someone from his team, likely saw all the backlash, which is why Musetti released a statement on his Instagram profile, explaining the situation and apologizing for his comments.
"Dear Chinese fans, I would like to sincerely apologize for what I said in frustration yesterday during my match. My words were directed only at a few individuals in the crowd who were coughing repeatedly and disturbing the play. They were never, in any way, meant for the Chinese people."
"It happened in a moment of stress and tension in the second tie-break, but still, this is no excuse at all. I realize that the way I expressed myself was wrong and inappropriate, and it hurt many Chinese fans’ feelings. I deeply regret it and feel very remorseful."
"I have always admired the Chinese people, and I truly appreciate playing in your country. I have been coming back to China since 2018, and I always feel very welcome here. I am grateful for the incredible support I constantly receive and for the many fans I have in China."
"Once again, I am truly sorry. I respect you deeply, I feel at home here, and I value the warmth and kindness I have always received from you. With respect and gratitude, Lorenzo."
It will be interesting to see how Musetti approaches his next matches in China. For example, Paula Badosa withdrew from a Chinese tournament last year after an incident in which she was accused of racism, and Townsend withdrew from Chinese events this year as well, following her fiasco.
Musetti is scheduled to play against Adrian Mannarino in his second-round match in Beijing on Sunday. It will be interesting to observe not only if the Italian appears on the court, but also how the crowd in the Chinese capital will welcome him.
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