Gauff condemns racist abuse after China Open win

Coco Gauff, the world number four, was forced to halt a point during her first‑round victory over 16‑year‑old Sun Xinran at the China Open after a flickering light in the side panels distracted play. She invoked the tournament’s video‑review rule, which allows players to challenge a point when a hindrance occurs, and the replay confirmed the point in her favour. Gauff then held serve to level the set at 5‑5 and went on to win the first set 7‑5, eventually cruising to a 7‑5, 6‑1 triumph that secured her place in the last‑16 in Beijing.

After the match, Gauff posted a detailed explanation on X, describing the lighting issue and apologising to Sun, who she said understood and accepted the apology. The post quickly attracted a wave of racist comments and direct messages, prompting Gauff to condemn the abuse, stating that disagreement could be expressed without resorting to racism and affirming that she is “not a cheater or a thief.” Her remarks highlighted the broader problem of online harassment faced by women in tennis, referencing a July report that documented over 12,000 abusive posts and messages targeting female players in 2025.

The incident underscores the ongoing challenge of protecting athletes from digital abuse. Both the WTA and World Tennis have called for “collective action” to achieve meaningful progress in combating such behaviour, signalling that Gauff’s experience is part of a larger pattern that the sport’s governing bodies are under pressure to address.

⚡ Effects Interpreter