The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) CEO, Portia Archer, issued a stern reminder to players about the impact of inappropriate social media content following recent controversies involving Paula Badosa and Magda Linette. The warning came through an email emphasizing the importance of respecting cultural sensitivity during the global tennis tour.

Badosa faced backlash after a selfie using chopsticks to pull her eyes, deemed offensive by some fans, went viral. Linette also sparked criticism with a social media caption referencing Wuhan, the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic. Both incidents ignited debates on social media about cultural insensitivity and stereotypes.

In the email obtained by a British publication, Archer highlighted the significant efforts made by host countries and the need for players to respect local cultures. She underscored that distasteful content, whether in images, text, or video, is inconsistent with the WTA’s values and could harm its reputation and operations.

Archer stressed that such actions not only tarnish the athlete’s image but also jeopardize tournament logistics and the WTA’s broader efforts to promote women’s professional tennis globally. The message served as a call for heightened awareness among players about their public behavior and its potential ramifications.

Paula Badosa in 2024

Currently the world no.12, Badosa played her last match on the 15^th of November when she was overcome by world no.2 Iga Swiatek 6-3 6-7(5) 6-1 in the Rubber 2 in (draw).

Presently, during this year Paula achieved a composed 37-19 record. The Spaniard conquered 1 title in Washington.