Taylor Townsend withdraws from Chinese events after hugely controversial comments

Taylor Townsend will not compete at the 2025 China Open in Beijing or the 2025 Wuhan Open, but many are skeptical about her reason for withdrawing.

Townsend was part of the U.S. team that reached the final of last week's Billie Jean King Cup. Shenzhen's hosting of the prestigious event demonstrated China's pivotal role in women's tennis.

Team Italy defeated the Americans to retain the title. Despite the exciting event, which was filled with memorable contests, Townsend's comments about Chinese cuisine caused much angst and distracted from on-court matters.

Townsend released Instagram stories that expressed disgust with the food offerings at a buffet. The first showed the food, with the two-time Grand Slam doubles champion expressing utter contempt.

A subsequent Instagram story generated even more backlash. Townsend scathingly tore into the food options, especially bullfrogs, a typical meal in many Asian countries. She questioned whether the meal was poisonous.

Understandably, many viewed the remarks as entirely unacceptable and disrespectful to Chinese culture. Townsend apologized for her words, said everyone in China had been very welcoming, and promised to be better in the future.

Nonetheless, strong feelings persist about Townsend's actions. Some fans in Shenzhen held up banners ridiculing her comments during the Billie Jean King Cup matches.

Townsend has now withdrawn from the tournaments in Beijing and Wuhan, citing an ankle injury. She reportedly plans to make her return when the WTA Tour moves to Japan, where there will be events in Tokyo and Osaka.

While Townsend will probably never admit it publicly, her absence from the China Open and Wuhan Opens could have been caused by her remarks and the reaction she might have received in the coming weeks.

The reports, if true, that Townsend is already eyeing a return to Japan, where the first tournament starts on October 13th, add further credence to the suspicions that she wants to stay out of the spotlight until then because of the anger she caused.

After the 2024 China Open, Paula Badosa's coach posted a photo on Instagram of the Spaniard squinting her eyes using chopsticks, a gesture commonly used to mock Asian people. The photo drew instant and significant outrage.

Badosa apologized for causing offence, but then accused some online accounts of bullying when she jokingly told her coach not to get her into more trouble when he posted something on social media.

That incident led to Badosa's late withdrawal from the Wuhan Open. The sudden decision and the lateness of the withdrawal made it evident that the world No. 2 did not want to compete after many accused her of racism.

However, Badosa did play at the following week's 2025 Ningbo Open, where she reached the semifinal before retiring at that stage with a genuine injury. She felt comfortable enough to return after one week away.

Townsend has gone further by withdrawing from two WTA 1000 events that comprise three weeks on the calendar. The American will hope to forget about the controversy she caused when competing in Japan.