Gauff Condemns Racist Abuse After China Open Win Over Sun Xinran

Coco Gauff has strongly condemned a wave of racist abuse directed at her on social media following her victory at the China Open. The world number four defeated 16-year-old Chinese wildcard Sun Xinran 7-5, 6-1 on Monday to advance to the round of 16 at the WTA 1000 event in Beijing. What should have been a straightforward post-match celebration instead became overshadowed by online hostility after a controversial point in the first set.

Gauff, a two-time Grand Slam champion who won the US Open in 2023 and the French Open in 2025, addressed the abuse directly. She made clear that disagreement over a rules decision does not justify racism.

The Incident That Sparked the Backlash

The disputed moment occurred while Gauff was serving at 4-5 in the opening set. During a long rally, she raised her hand to stop play because of a flickering light in the LED advertising panels surrounding the court. Sun Xinran, believing she had struck a winner that would have left her two points from taking the set, was visibly affected when the point was halted.

After a video review, the chair umpire ruled that the flickering boards constituted a hindrance outside the players’ control. The point was replayed. Gauff won it, held serve to level at 5-5, closed out the set 7-5, and then dominated the second set 6-1. She dropped just one more game for the remainder of the match.

Gauff later explained her actions in detail. She noted that players are instructed they may finish the point and still request a review afterward. She said she first noticed the flicker early in the rally but only raised her hand when it happened again and she was certain. Under the current rules, a let can be called for external distractions such as lights or boards changing during play.

Gauff’s Response to the Racist Comments

Shortly after the match, Gauff began receiving a flood of messages that crossed into racial abuse. Some users labeled her a cheater or thief. Others used explicit racial slurs. She replied to one such post on X with a measured but firm statement.

“Hey everyone, you can dislike me or disagree about what happened without being racist,” she wrote. “The amount of racist comments/dms I’ve received in the last few hours is insane. Lastly, I’m not a cheater or a thief.”

In a longer explanation shared across platforms, Gauff stressed that the situation was unfortunate yet outside her control. She pointed out that the rules allow either player to request a review after a point ends. Had she lost the original point, Sun would have had the same right. “I think it’s weird I’m getting hate for following the rules,” Gauff added.

She also took care to praise her opponent. “Xinran is an incredible talent and player. I apologized for the situation at the end of the match and she completely understood. I did not like to see her so emotional as I’ve been there and I really understand what it’s like, but this is just the beginning of an incredible career. It was an honor to share the court in front of her home crowd.”

Context and Broader Issues

The China Open is one of the premier events on the Asian swing, and local interest in rising Chinese players is high. Sun Xinran, a junior US Open champion earlier in the year, represented a home hope. The emotional reaction from parts of the crowd and online community was therefore intense. Yet the volume and nature of the racist messages directed at Gauff crossed a clear line.

Online abuse has become an unfortunate feature of high-profile tennis. Players of all backgrounds report targeted harassment, but Black athletes frequently face an additional layer of racial vitriol. Gauff has spoken previously about the mental toll of such comments, especially after losses. On this occasion the abuse arrived after a win, triggered solely by her decision to invoke a legitimate rule.

The WTA has systems in place, including AI monitoring, aimed at detecting and addressing online abuse. Whether those tools can keep pace with the speed of social media remains an open question. Tournament organisers and the governing body were contacted for comment following Gauff’s statements.

Looking Ahead

Gauff advances to face Elise Mertens in the round of 16. The American remains one of the most consistent performers on the women’s tour and a leading figure for a new generation of players. Her willingness to address racism head-on continues a pattern of using her platform to draw attention to issues that extend beyond the court.

The incident at the China Open serves as a reminder that rules disputes can quickly escalate when filtered through the lens of social media. Gauff followed the regulations as written, apologised to her opponent, and then faced an “insane” volume of racist messages. Her response was clear: disagreement is acceptable; racism is not. For many online readers who follow tennis, the story is less about a single flickering light and more about the persistent challenge of protecting athletes from hate.

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