American tennis player Coco Gauff reported receiving an overwhelming volume of racist comments on social media following a disputed point during her third-round victory over home favourite Sun Xinran at the China Open. The incident sparked significant backlash online, prompting Gauff to publicly condemn the abuse while defending her decision to challenge the point.
During the first set of her 7-5, 6-1 win over the 16-year-old Sun on Monday, Gauff stopped play after noticing the electronic advertising boards lining the court flickering. According to reporting on the incident, Gauff had observed the boards flicker earlier in the rally but was uncertain about what she had witnessed. The chair umpire subsequently ordered the point to be replayed. According to match details, the replay occurred when Sun was leading 5-4 with the score at 15-15 on Gauff's serve; Gauff won the replayed point and held serve to level the set.
The umpire reviewed video footage and determined that the flickering constituted a hindrance beyond the players' control. Under WTA rules, this decision warranted replaying the point. Gauff, ranked No. 4 and a two-time Grand Slam champion, subsequently took command of the match, winning nine of the final ten games to secure victory in 1 hour and 29 minutes.
What did Gauff say about the racist comments?
Gauff responded directly to the abuse through social media posts, emphasising that disagreement about the point did not justify racist attacks.
"Hey everyone, you can dislike me or disagree about what happened without being racist,"she wrote on X.
"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 follow-up message, Gauff clarified her understanding of the rules governing such situations.
"I think it's weird I'm getting hate for following the rules. Xinran is [an] incredible talent and player, I apologized for the situation at the end of the match and she completely understood,"she stated. Gauff emphasised her respect for her opponent and the circumstances surrounding the match.
How did Sun Xinran respond to the defeat?
Sun, who received a wild-card entry from tournament organisers and was making her WTA Tour debut, appeared visibly emotional following the loss. The teenager had recently won the US Open junior title, marking her as an emerging talent in professional tennis. Gauff acknowledged Sun's distress and drew on her own experience as a young player competing at the highest level.
"I did not like to see her so emotional as I've been there and I really understand what it is like but this is just the beginning of an incredible career,"Gauff said.
"It was an honour to share the court in front of her home crowd."
Has this issue affected other matches at the tournament?
The flickering advertising panels have created complications elsewhere at the China Open. During a men's quarter-final match between Alexander Zverev and Novak Djokovic on Sunday, the umpire similarly agreed to replay a point after Zverev raised concerns about the flickering panels. This suggests the technical issue may be systemic rather than isolated to Gauff's match.
What is Gauff's next match?
Gauff was scheduled to face Belgian player Elise Mertens in the round of 16 on Wednesday, October 7, as she continues her campaign at the China Open.
Key Facts
- Gauff defeated Sun Xinran 7-5, 6-1 in the third round of the China Open on Monday
- The disputed point occurred when Sun was leading 5-4 at 15-15 on Gauff's serve; Gauff won the replay and held serve
- Gauff won nine of the final ten games and completed the match in 1 hour and 29 minutes
- A similar flickering issue affected a men's quarter-final between Zverev and Djokovic on Sunday
- Sun, 16, was making her WTA Tour debut after winning the US Open junior title
