Coco Gauff decries "insane" amount of online racism after China match dispute

Beijing, AP — During a crucial point late in the first set of her China Open match against Sun Xinran, Coco Gauff, a Black player, observed a flickering electronic advertisement board on the court. This interruption led to an "insane" surge of racist comments on social media following the exchange. Gauff, a two-time Grand Slam champion and the current No. 4 ranked player, addressed the issue on X, clarifying that while she appreciates Sun's talent, the overwhelming number of racist comments and direct messages she received in the hours after the match is "insane."

Gauff stated, "Hey everyone, you can dislike me or disagree about what happened without being racist." She later apologized to Sun, acknowledging the intense emotions the 16-year-old was experiencing, emphasizing that this setback is just the beginning of Sun's promising career. Despite the controversy, Gauff expressed empathy towards Sun, saying, "I did not like to see her so emotional as I’ve been there and I really understand what it is like." The Ukrainian player was making her WTA Tour debut and was visibly upset after the loss.