Tennis star Taylor Townsend apologizes for feedback about Chinese language meals

[ad_1] American tennis star Taylor Townsend has apologized "from the underside of my coronary heart" for making disparaging feedback about Chinese language meals.

"I simply actually wished to apologize. There is no excuse, there aren't any phrases. And for me, I simply, I will probably be higher," she mentioned on Instagram.

The 29-year-old, who's ranked world No. 1 in doubles, is in China for the 2025 Billie Jean King Cup Finals.

She not too long ago posted movies of native dishes together with bullfrogs and turtles on Wednesday. She joked she would wish to "discuss to HR" concerning the high quality of the meals.

<img loading="lazy" alt="A woman in a black tennis uniform in action during a match." srcset="https://i.cbc.ca/1.7635956.1758116439!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_1180/2232429128.jpg?im=Resize%3D805 805w,https://i.cbc.ca/1.7635956.1758116439!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_1180/2232429128.jpg?im=Resize%3D1104 1104w,https://i.cbc.ca/1.7635956.1758116439!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_1180/2232429128.jpg?im=Resize%3D1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 762px) 93.6vw,730px" src="https://i.cbc.ca/1.7635956.1758116439!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_1180/2232429128.jpg?im=" style="aspect-ratio:1.5012722646310432" data-cy="image-img"/> Townsend will lineup alongside McCartney Kessler for a possible doubles match between the U.S. and Kazakhstan on Thursday. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Photos) However after going through a backlash on-line, Townsend took to Instagram once more Wednesday to apologize.

"I simply wished to return on right here and apologize sincerely from the underside of my coronary heart," mentioned Townsend, who mentioned she understood how privileged she is as knowledgeable athlete to have the ability to journey all over the world and expertise cultural variations.

"(It is) one of many issues that I like a lot about what I do, and I've had nothing however probably the most superb expertise in time right here and the match," Townsend mentioned. "Everybody has been so variety and so gracious. And the issues that I mentioned weren't consultant of that in any respect."

Final month on the U.S. Open, Townsend acquired right into a dispute with Jelena Ostapenko. She mentioned the Latvian participant instructed her she had "no training, no class" after their second-round match, which Townsend gained.

<img loading="lazy" alt="Two women tennis players argue after their match." srcset="https://i.cbc.ca/1.7636109.1758123020!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_1180/2232430337.jpg?im=Resize%3D805 805w,https://i.cbc.ca/1.7636109.1758123020!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_1180/2232430337.jpg?im=Resize%3D1104 1104w,https://i.cbc.ca/1.7636109.1758123020!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_1180/2232430337.jpg?im=Resize%3D1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 762px) 93.6vw,730px" src="https://i.cbc.ca/1.7636109.1758123020!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_1180/2232430337.jpg?im=" style="aspect-ratio:1.7664670658682635" data-cy="image-img"/> Jelena Ostapenko, proper, argues with Townsend following their U.S. Open match. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Photos) Ostapenko later apologized on social media, saying English just isn't her first language and that when she used the phrase "training" she meant tennis etiquette.

A reporter had requested Townsend, who's Black, whether or not she thought there have been racial undertones to what Ostapenko mentioned on the court docket. Townsend later mentioned it was "nice that she went to social media and apologized."

Townsend and the US are scheduled to play Kazakhstan in Shenzen, China, on Sept. 18. She'll line up alongside McCartney Kessler for the potential doubles match, with the winner transferring on to the semifinal.