Gauff says racist abuse followed disputed point at China Open
In short
Coco Gauff said she received an “insane” amount of racist comments and direct messages after a disputed point in her China Open third-round win over Sun Xinran in Beijing. Gauff stopped a rally when electronic advertising boards flickered; the chair umpire ordered the point replayed, and she won 7-5, 6-1. She said she apologized to the 16-year-old Sun, who was making her WTA Tour debut on a wild card, and that Sun understood.
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Coco Gauff said she received an “insane” amount of racist comments on social media after a disputed point in her China Open third-round match against Sun Xinran in Beijing. Gauff, ranked No. 4 and a two-time Grand Slam champion, stopped a rally late in the first set when electronic advertising boards lining the court flickered. Sun, a 16-year-old playing on a wild card in her WTA Tour debut, appeared about to win the point, but the chair umpire ordered it replayed. Gauff went on to win 7-5, 6-1 on Monday. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
In a reply on X, Gauff wrote: “Hey everyone, you can dislike me or disagree about what happened without being racist. 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.” Gauff, who is Black, said in another post that Sun is an “incredible talent and player,” that she apologized at the end of the match and that Sun completely understood. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Sun, who was given a wild card by tournament organizers and was making her WTA Tour debut, appeared distraught after the loss. Gauff said she sympathized: “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. It was an honor to share the court in front of her home crowd.” [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Fox News reported that Gauff explained what happened during the point, saying she saw a light “flicker” early in the point “but was not sure if that is what I actually saw,” and that players are told before matches they are allowed to continue to finish play and may challenge anything after the point is over. Fox News also reported that her reply came to a post using a racial slur, and that she has called out racism in the past, saying she received similar comments from gamblers earlier this year. [ 6 ]
CBS News reported that Gauff requested a video review during the match, which prompted some boos from the crowd. The Associated Press, The Boston Globe, CNN and Fox News accounts of the match do not mention a review request or boos. Reuters also covered the episode, publishing a headline in Portuguese saying Gauff criticised the racist insults after the point replay drew a negative reaction; no article text was available from that outlet. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
Why it matters
The episode puts online abuse of athletes and racism in tennis back in focus after a disputed point at a tournament in Beijing. Gauff, one of the sport’s leading players, stated her case publicly on X, so the incident reaches audiences well beyond the tournament. The match also introduced a 16-year-old home player, Sun Xinran, to a wider audience.
Key facts
- Coco Gauff said she received an “insane” amount of racist comments and direct messages on social media after her China Open third-round match against Sun Xinran. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- Gauff stopped a rally late in the first set after electronic advertising boards lining the court flickered. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- The chair umpire ordered the point to be replayed. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- Gauff won the third-round match 7-5, 6-1. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- Sun Xinran, 16, entered as a wild card and was making her WTA Tour debut. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Gauff said she apologized to Sun after the match and that Sun completely understood. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Gauff is ranked No. 4 and is a two-time Grand Slam champion. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Fox News reported that Gauff said she saw a light “flicker” early in the point “but was not sure if that is what I actually saw.” [ 6 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Gauff said she received racist comments and direct messages on social media after the match. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- Gauff stopped play after advertising boards lining the court flickered during a point. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- The chair umpire ordered the point to be replayed. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- Gauff defeated Sun Xinran 7-5, 6-1. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- Gauff said she apologized to Sun and that Sun understood. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Gauff is ranked No. 4 and is a two-time Grand Slam champion. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Gauff requested a video review that prompted boos from the crowd. Only CBS News reported this; the Associated Press, The Boston Globe, CNN and Fox News accounts do not mention a review request or boos.
- The exact number or content of the racist comments. The documents describe the volume as “insane” but give no count or examples, and Fox News refers to a reply to a post using a racial slur without reproducing it.
- Whether Sun Xinran or tournament organizers have commented. No statements from Sun or the organizers are included in the documents; only Gauff’s account that Sun understood is given.
- Whether Gauff previously received similar comments from gamblers. Only Fox News mentions this, saying it happened earlier this year; no other document refers to it.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Gauff beats Sun Xinran 7-5, 6-1 in the China Open third round in Beijing after a first-set point is replayed when advertising boards flicker. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- The Associated Press publishes its report on Gauff’s statement. [ 1 ]
- The Boston Globe publishes the AP report. [ 2 ]
- CBS News publishes its report, adding that Gauff requested a video review, prompting boos. [ 3 ]
- CNN publishes its report. [ 4 ]
- Reuters publishes a Portuguese-language headline on Gauff criticising the racist insults. [ 5 ]
- Fox News publishes its report, including Gauff’s account of the flickering light and reference to earlier racist comments from gamblers. [ 6 ]