Townsend Withdraws from Beijing and Wuhan: Genuine Injury or Strategy to Avoid China?

A controversy over the buffet, forced apologies, and then an unexpected withdrawal—Taylor Townsend is going through a turbulent period. Her decision to return to Asia… but only to Japan, has puzzled tennis fans.

The world No. 2 in doubles and US Open quarterfinalist found herself in turmoil last week after criticizing the buffet at her hotel in Shenzhen.

Her disgust toward Chinese cuisine, particularly "bullfrogs," forced her to issue an apology.

On Tuesday, her withdrawal from the Beijing and Wuhan tournaments was announced due to an ankle injury.

Townsend has since returned to the United States but plans to return to competition in Asia, specifically in Japan for the Osaka and Tokyo tournaments. This choice has raised doubts among fans, with some speculating that the world No. 114 may have fabricated the injury to avoid facing backlash from the Chinese public.