The WTA will clamp down hard on ‘distasteful content’ posted by their stars (Image: Getty)
stars have received a stern warning about ‘distasteful content’ after Paula Badosa and Magda Linette landed themselves in hot water in China earlier this year. Both players received widespread criticism for social media posts while they were in Asia.
Badosa’s coach posted a picture of the world No. 12 . Linette saying that “the virus database has been updated”.
Both players apologised and the posts were removed. However, stars have been left in no uncertain terms that similar offences will not be tolerated by the new WTA CEO Portia Archer.
In a strong email sent to WTA players seen by , Archer wrote: “Tournaments and countries host us as their guests at considerable effort and expense, and it is of absolute importance to respect the local culture of the regions we compete in, all of which make our global Tour a success.
“Distasteful content of any kind (such as images, references, text, video) relating to the culture, history, or hurtful stereotypes of a group of people or a region is inconsistent with the values the WTA represents and will not be tolerated.
“Not only do such harmful actions generate negative coverage and reflect poorly for the athlete, but they also impact women’s professional tennis as a whole, along with having negative effects on the hard-working team and staff that organize WTA events.
“These actions can also pose a risk around the entire tournament, with security, transport, and other areas all put in potential jeopardy.”
Later in the email, Archer added: “There is no place for this in the WTA. I will take action and responsibility for holding all of us accountable to the standards of the Code.”
Paula Badosa received criticism for pulling the skin of her eyes wider with chopsticks in China (Image: Getty)
The WTA have a strong relationship with China. In 2018, the women’s tour signed a reported £800m 10-year deal to hold its Tour Finals in Shenzhen. However, only one tournament was held prior to the pandemic and the agreement was cancelled.
Women’s tennis briefly boycotted China over the disappearance of former doubles world No 1 Peng Shuai, who had made allegations of sexual assault against a former high-ranking member of the Chinese Communist Party.
Concerns remain over Peng’s freedom of expression but the WTA abandoned their boycott until even before men’s tennis had returned to China following the pandemic, meaning no tournament was actually boycotted.