Online Reporter
Doubles world No 2 Taylor Townsend has pulled out of the China Open in Beijing “due to a change of schedule”, the WTA told AFP yesterday, days after controversial comments about Chinese food.
The American Townsend came under fire for calling buffet food “crazy” while competing at the Billie Jean King Cup in Shenzhen which ended on Sunday.
“What the hell.. turtle and bullfrog is WILD,” she posted on Instagram.
“These people are literally killing frogs, bullfrogs. Aren’t those the ones that give you warts and boils and stuff?” she added, before later apologising.
The 29-year-old Townsend had been due to be top seed with Czech partner Katerina Siniakova in the women’s doubles in Beijing.
The pair were beaten finalists at the US Open earlier this month.
Townsend “withdrew from the doubles field before the draw was made due to a change of schedule,” a WTA communications official told AFP. —SuperSport.
Bongani Ndlovu