SHENZHEN, China — American tennis sensation Taylor Townsend has issued a heartfelt apology for her recent remarks regarding Chinese cuisine.
Her controversial comments on social media—prompting this apology—preceded the United States’ match against Kazakhstan at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Shenzhen, China.
The 29-year-old Townsend, currently the world No. 1 in doubles, shared videos highlighting local delicacies like bullfrogs and turtles, humorously suggesting she might need to “consult HR” about the food quality.
Following a wave of criticism online, she returned to Instagram on Wednesday to express her regret.
“I’d like to sincerely apologize from the depths of my heart,” said Townsend, acknowledging the privilege of being a professional athlete who can explore diverse cultures around the globe.
“That’s one of the most rewarding aspects of my career, and I’ve had nothing but wonderful experiences here at the tournament,” Townsend reflected. “Everyone has been incredibly kind and gracious. My prior comments did not reflect that at all, and I genuinely want to extend my apologies. There are no excuses or words that can justify it. I aim to do better moving forward.”
Last month, Townsend was involved in a tense exchange with Jelena Ostapenko at the US Open, where the Latvian player claimed Townsend had “no education, no class” following their second-round match.
Ostapenko later took to social media to clarify that her use of the word “education” was meant to refer to tennis etiquette, emphasizing that English is not her first language.
A reporter subsequently asked Townsend, who is Black, if she perceived any racial undertones in Ostapenko’s comments.
Townsend later expressed that it was “great” for Ostapenko to apologize on social media.
The U.S. team is set to face Kazakhstan in the quarterfinals on Thursday.
