(VIDEO) Taylor Townsend’s apology fails to calm Shenzhen boos after mocking Chinese food

Taylor Townsend received a harsh reception from the Shenzhen crowd upon her return to the courts for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals. The American was targeted for her allegedly racist comments during her time in China, and despite apologizing hours later, the Chinese public did not seem to forgive the doubles No. 1.

Townsend is part of the USA team that is competing this week at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Shenzhen. In the quarterfinals, they defeated the team from Kazakhstan this Thursday, September 18, with the Townsend/Pegula doubles team winning against Rybakina and Putintseva.

When the USA doubles team was announced, with Townsend walking onto the court with Pegula, fans erupted in boos against the American player. A photo of a sign with a message directly for the player also circulated on social media: "Taylor, eat more bullfrogs then you'll play better."

The doubles world No. 1 found herself in a controversy for mocking the Chinese food they were served at the players' party before the event. In a video shared on Townsend's social media, she made remarks about the food that many considered disrespectful. "This is the craziest thing I've ever seen... and people eating this," she wrote in the video she uploaded to her social media on Tuesday night, in a clip where she appeared with her colleague Hailey Baptiste while filming the dinner.

The next day, Townsend commented in a story, giving her impressions of the dinner. "I'm honestly just so shocked at what I saw in the dinner buffet. As I go back and I look… these people are literally killing frogs… bullfrogs. Aren't those poisonous?" she commented. "Aren't those the ones that give you warts and boils and stuff? And the fact that it's all stewed up with chillies, peppers, and onions. Like oh, you really made this a dish. All in all I'd give this like a solid 2 out of 10 so far, because this is crazy."

The situation drew a swift response on social media, with several fans accusing Townsend's comments of being racist, which led her to apologize hours later on her social media. "I just wanted to come on here and apologize sincerely from the bottom of my heart," the doubles world No. 1 commented.

"I understand that I am so privileged as a professional athlete to be able to travel all around the world and experience cultural differences which is one of the things that I love so much about what I do. And I have had nothing but the most amazing experience and time here, and the tournament and everyone has been so kind and so gracious. And the things that I said were not representative of that at all and I just truly wanted to apologize."

Despite the unpleasant reception from the Chinese public, Townsend fulfilled her duty in the doubles match—where, as the world No. 1 alongside Pegula, they were the clear favorites to defeat Rybakina and Putintseva. The series was tough, but they pulled off the win that takes them to the semifinals, where they await their opponent from the match between Japan and Great Britain.

China was eliminated in the quarterfinals against Italy after two close singles losses: Elisabetta Cocciaretto defeated Yue Yuan (4-6, 7-5, 7-5) and Jasmine Paolini overcame Wang Xinyu (4-6, 7-6, 6-4). As for the USA, they were waiting for their quarterfinal debut this Thursday against Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina, where it was expected that Townsend would appear in the doubles match if the series was not decided in the singles matches.