Coco Gauff faces racist abuse after China Open controversy

Coco Gauff China Open racist abuse Sun Xinran tennis controversy

American tennis star Coco Gauff has reported receiving an “insane” amount of racist abuse and accusations of cheating on social media following a controversial point during the China Open in Beijing. The incident occurred during her third-round match against 16-year-old Sun Xinran. Gauff halted play during the first set to request a video review after noticing flickering LED advertising boards, which she claimed were a distraction. The umpire ruled in her favor, ordering the point to be replayed. Gauff went on to win the match 7-5, 6-1, but the decision sparked significant backlash online.

Gauff addressed the abuse on X, stating, “You can dislike me or disagree about what happened without being racist,” and clarifying, “I’m not a cheater or a thief.” She also expressed sympathy for her opponent, noting that Sun was an “incredible talent” and apologizing for the emotional distress caused by the situation.

Following the controversy, Gauff’s performance appeared affected by the digital toxicity. She was subsequently eliminated in the round of 16 by Belgium’s Elise Mertens, losing 6-3, 6-3. Gauff described the experience of dealing with the online harassment as “draining.” The WTA expressed being “appalled by the racial abuse directed at Coco Gauff” and stated there is “no place for racism, discrimination, or abuse in tennis.”

Entities

China Open · Coco Gauff · Elise Mertens · Sun Xinran · WTA · World Tennis

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] The chair umpire ordered a replay of a point after electronic advertising boards flickered during play. wavepublication.com · www.elplural.com · www.terra.com.br
[● 3 SOURCES] Gauff defeated Sun Xinran with a score of 7-5, 6-1 at the China Open. wavepublication.com · www.elplural.com · www.terra.com.br
[● 2 SOURCES] Gauff denied accusations of being a cheater or a thief. wavepublication.com · www.elplural.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] In 2025, the Threat Matrix system examined over 1.2 million posts and detected more than 12,000 instances of abusive content. www.elplural.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Coco Gauff reported receiving an insane amount of racist comments and direct messages on social media. wavepublication.com · www.elplural.com · www.terra.com.br
[○ 1 SOURCE] The WTA and World Tennis use the Threat Matrix system, which combines AI and human analysts, to monitor abusive content. www.elplural.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Gauff apologized to Sun Xinran for the situation following the match. wavepublication.com