Happy Tuesday! This week's headlines were dominated by cultural controversies during the Asian swing, while several top players made announcements about their competitive futures.

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The Asian swing has been overshadowed by controversy as cultural insensitivity from top players sparked backlash. In mid-September, Taylor Townsend drew criticism for Instagram videos mocking Chinese cuisine, filming local dishes while expressing shock at the "dinner buffet." She rated the experience "a solid 2 out of 10," prompting accusations of disrespect toward Chinese culture. The criticism was especially sharp given Townsend had recently been told she had “no class” and “no education” by Jelena Ostapenko at the US Open, remarks Naomi Osaka and others defended as racially insensitive, particularly in a predominantly white sport.

Soon after, Lorenzo Musetti found himself in similar trouble following his China Open win over Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. Frustrated by crowd disruptions, the Italian shouted an expletive-laden complaint about "Chinese always coughing,” triggering immediate social media outrage. He issued a lengthy apology the next day, admitting his words were “wrong and inappropriate” and clarifying that his frustration was directed at “a few individuals in the crowd who were coughing repeatedly” during a tense second-set tiebreak.

Both players apologized profusely and emphasized their respect for Chinese fans and culture. But the back-to-back controversies dominated headlines during the Asian swing and underscored tennis’s ongoing challenges with cultural sensitivity as the sport deepens its global footprint, particularly in Asia, which is now central to both its calendar and revenue.

A group of top-ranked players sent a letter to Grand Slams requesting a revenue share increase from 16 to 22 percent by 2030. The letter signed by Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Świątek, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner also proposed $12 million annually for pension, health and maternity benefits plus more influence via a new player council.

Qinwen Zheng retired from her China Open third-round match against Linda Nosková while trailing 6-4, 3-6, 3-0 due to recurring right elbow pain. The home favorite was competing in her first tournament since undergoing elbow surgery in July and will await MRI results to determine her next steps.

Elina Svitolina and Beatriz Haddad Maia announced they are ending their 2025 seasons early to prioritize rest and recovery. Svitolina cited mental and emotional exhaustion following Ukraine's Billie Jean King Cup semifinal loss, while Haddad Maia needs extended time to recharge after a challenging 16-26 season.

Hubert Hurkacz also announced he will not return to competition this season as he continues recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery performed in July. The former world number six, currently ranked 69th, emphasized he needs to be prepared "110%" before competing at the highest level and will return fully ready in 2026.

Alizé Cornet announced her second and final retirement from professional tennis after competing in San Sebastián earlier this month. The 35-year-old former world number 11 briefly returned to competition this year following her initial farewell at Roland Garros in 2024, finishing her career with a loss to Tamara Korpatsch.

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