Magda Linette’s Wuhan debut overshadowed by controversial tweet: "I know I offended some of you guys"

Wednesday, 09 October 2024 at 18:23

Magda Linette didn’t receive the warmest welcome at her WTA 1000 Wuhan Open debut, following controversial remarks on social media. The 32-year-old Pole defeated 11th seed Liudmila Samsonova with a commanding 6-2, 6-2 win, advancing to the Round of 32, where she’ll face Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko on Wednesday.

However, Linette’s strong performance wasn’t the only thing that caught the audience’s attention during the match. The world No. 45 received a lukewarm reception from the Chinese crowd, seemingly due to a Tweet she posted while traveling to Wuhan: “The virus database has been updated,” along with a picture from the train in Beijing.

Apparently, Linette made a reference to Covid-19 that she quickly deleted. Nevertheless, some fans reacted, sharing screenshots of the Polish player's post, which was not well received as she arrived on court to face Samsonova.

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After the match, she was asked in the on-court interview about her performance, while shouts of ‘apologize’ could be heard from the stands. “Can I just say, I know I offended some of you guys,” she began, before the interviewer took the mic and tried to change the topic.

“Okay, talk about your performance,” they said, but Linette continued. “Thank you so much for still being so nice to me, so thank you so much.”

However, the emcee didn’t fully translate Linette’s words, simply saying: “She said thank you. That’s all from us today. The game is over.”

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Eane

@funtennisfan

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Magda Linette causes controversy after commenting about the virus ahead of Wuhan Open. Many Chinese fans demand action from the WTA regarding this matter.

12:35 PM · Oct 3, 2024

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Owen

@kostekcanu

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She tried to apologize to the crowd, but the interviewer literally took the mic away and told her to answer the question about the match 💀 they ended the interview after one question

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moonball enthusiast

@ninjaga20

That Linette interview 💀💀 she is so hated in Wuhan 😭😭

6:09 AM · Oct 8, 2024

1.2K

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Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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