Coco Gauff Addresses Racist Abuse After China Open Win

Coco Gauff condemned the online racist abuse she received after her victory over Sun Xinran at the China Open. Gauff won the match 7-5, 6-1, advancing to the fourth round.

The match included a controversial moment when Gauff protested a flickering advertising board that distracted Sun during a point. Sun overruled the umpire after a video review, leading to Gauff winning the point and holding serve for 5-5.

Following the match, Gauff received numerous racist comments on social media, prompting her to respond on X, stating, “Dislike me or disagree on anything that occurred without you being racist.” She emphasized that she is neither a thief nor a liar and expressed her admiration for Sun, calling her a great talent and apologizing to her after the match. Gauff's experience highlights the rising tide of abuse in women's tennis, leading to the launch of an AI-powered online abuse monitor in the sport.