Lorenzo Musetti found himself in serious trouble during his first-round match at the 2025 China Open in Beijing. The Italian tennis star made comments that quickly went viral on Chinese social media – and not for good reasons.
The 23-year-old arrived in Beijing fresh off a heartbreaking loss in Chengdu. He’s been struggling lately, having not won a title since 2022.
That Chengdu final was his fifth straight final loss. Musetti was actually in tears after that defeat.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lorenzo Musetti | 23 | 1,290 | 11 - 15 |
But there wasn’t time to feel sorry for himself. He had to quickly travel to Beijing for the ATP 500 tournament, where even the fourth seed like him had to play in the opening round.
A Frustrating Match Gets Worse
His opponent was Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, and things didn’t go smoothly. Musetti needed a medical timeout during the match and also blew a chance to close out the second set in the tiebreak.
He did manage to win 7-6(3), 6-7(4), 6-4. But the victory got completely overshadowed by what happened during that second-set tiebreak.
After losing his mini-break advantage, Musetti got frustrated with crowd noise. Some fans were coughing, which apparently distracted him during crucial points.
That’s when he shouted toward his team:
"They’re always coughing those da*n Chinese. They keep coughing, f**k. They cough every three minutes."
Social Media Erupts
Just like when Taylor Townsend got in hot water for mocking Chinese cuisine, Musetti’s comments spread like wildfire on Chinese social media platforms.
Fans weren’t having it. Many called his remarks racist and completely inappropriate.
The world No. 9 player (or someone on his team) must have seen the massive backlash pretty quickly. Within hours, Musetti posted a lengthy apology on Instagram.
"Dear Chinese fans, I would like to sincerely apologize for what I said in frustration yesterday during my match. My words were directed only at a few individuals in the crowd who were coughing repeatedly and disturbing the play. They were never, in any way, meant for the Chinese people."
He didn’t stop there.
"It happened in a moment of stress and tension in the second tie-break, but still, this is no excuse at all. I realize that the way I expressed myself was wrong and inappropriate, and it hurt many Chinese fans’ feelings. I deeply regret it and feel very remorseful."
Trying to Make Things Right
Musetti tried to emphasize his connection to China in his apology:
"I have always admired the Chinese people, and I truly appreciate playing in your country. I have been coming back to China since 2018, and I always feel very welcome here. I am grateful for the incredible support I constantly receive and for the many fans I have in China."
"Once again, I am truly sorry. I respect you deeply, I feel at home here, and I value the warmth and kindness I have always received from you. With respect and gratitude, Lorenzo."
The big question now is whether he’ll actually stick around to face the music.
Paula Badosa withdrew from a Chinese tournament last year after her own racism controversy. Townsend also pulled out of Chinese events this year following her comments about the food.
What Happens Next?
Musetti is supposed to play Adrian Mannarino in the second round on Sunday.
Will he actually show up? And if he does, how will the Beijing crowd react?
It’s going to be really interesting to see if the Italian can handle what’s likely to be a pretty hostile reception. The guy’s already been struggling with his game lately – the last thing he needed was this kind of distraction.
The tennis world will be watching to see if Musetti follows through on his apology or if he becomes the third player to bail on Chinese tournaments after controversial comments.
