Coco Gauff Addresses Racial Abuse Following China Open Controversy

American tennis player Coco Gauff has spoken out against racial abuse she received on social media following a controversial match at the China Open. Gauff faced online harassment after a disputed point in her Round of 32 victory against China's Sun Xinran.

The incident occurred when Gauff requested a replay of a point due to flickering LED boards on the court. The chair umpire granted her request after a video review, and Gauff went on to win the point. She subsequently won the match in straight sets, 7-6, 6-1.

However, the decision to replay the point drew criticism from some fans, particularly as broadcasters noted the LED boards had been flickering prior to Gauff playing through the rally. In response to what she described as an "insane" amount of racist comments and direct messages, Gauff posted on X (formerly Twitter), "Hey everyone, you can dislike me or disagree about what happened without being racist."

Gauff further elaborated on the situation in an Instagram comment, explaining that she initially noticed the flickering boards but was unsure if it was real. She stated that players are permitted to request replays if such disruptions occur, and that she raised her hand before her opponent hit the ball once she was certain of the issue. Gauff emphasized that challenges can be made after a point concludes, a rule she believes is standard across sports.

She added that if she had lost the point, her opponent would have been within her rights to request a replay as well. "I did not like to see her so emotional as l’ve been there and I really understand what it is like but this is just the beginning of an incredible career," Gauff wrote, referring to Sun Xinran. "It was an honor to share the court in front of her home crowd."

Gauff stressed that the criticism and accusations of unfair play were "ridiculous" given she was following the established rules. She expressed that she felt it was "weird" to receive hate for adhering to the rules and apologized to Xinran for the situation, noting that the Chinese player "completely understood."