Coco Gauff reports racist abuse after China Open match incident

Coco Gauff reported receiving racist abuse on social media after a controversial moment during her third-round victory at the China Open in Beijing. The American tennis player defeated 16-year-old Sun Xinran 7-5, 6-1 on October 5, 2026, but the match was marked by an interruption that sparked online backlash.

The Match Incident

The controversy occurred late in the first set while Gauff was serving at 4-5. Sun Xinran, playing on home soil with a wild-card entry, appeared to have hit a winning shot. However, Gauff stopped play, citing a flickering light from the electronic advertising boards lining the court.

According to BBC Sport, players are permitted to request video reviews for specific judgment points if they believe a hindrance, such as a distraction, interfered with play. The chair umpire ordered the point to be replayed. Gauff won the replayed point, held serve to reach 5-5, and subsequently closed out the first set. She dropped only one game in the remainder of the match to secure her place in the last 16.

Gauff’s Explanation

Gauff addressed the incident in a post on X, explaining her actions and the rules regarding hindrances. She stated that she saw a light flicker early in the point but was unsure if she had actually seen it. She noted that players are told before matches they are allowed to continue to finish play, but anything can be challenged after the point is over.

"If I would’ve lost the point my opponent is also free to do the same thing and ask for a replay and she would’ve have been completely in her right to do so," Gauff said. She described the situation as "unfortunate" but "out of my control," adding that she did not make the rules and found it "weird" to receive hate for following them.

Gauff confirmed that she apologized to Sun at the end of the match and that the young player "completely understood." Gauff expressed sympathy for Sun, who appeared distraught after the loss, noting that she had been in a similar position as a teenager.

Response to Online Abuse

Following her explanation, Gauff responded to replies on X that contained racial slurs. She condemned the abuse while acknowledging that disagreement with her actions was permissible.

"hey everyone, you can dislike me or disagree about what happened without being racist. the amount of racist comments/dms I’ve received in the last few hours is insane," Gauff wrote. She added that she is "not a cheater or a thief."

This is not the first time Gauff has reported such abuse; she previously stated she received similar comments from gamblers earlier in the year. A report in July indicated that female tennis players were subjected to more than 12,000 abusive posts and messages on social media in 2025. The WTA and World Tennis have stated that "collective action" is required to make "significant progress" in tackling such abuse.

Why it matters

The incident highlights the ongoing challenges tennis players face regarding online harassment and the intersection of sportsmanship with social media dynamics. Gauff’s public response underscores the pressure on athletes to justify on-court decisions while simultaneously dealing with discriminatory abuse. The WTA’s previous data on abusive posts indicates a systemic issue within the sport that organizations are attempting to address through collective action.

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Sources

• foxnews.com: Coco Gauff calls out 'insane' racist comments after 16-year-old opponent gets emotional following controversy | OutKick
• bbc.com: China Open: Coco Gauff condemns racist abuse on social media after incident during Sun Xinran match - BBC Sport
• geosuper.tv: Coco Gauff reports racist abuse after China Open incident

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.