Coco Gauff hits out at racist abuse after replayed point in Beijing sparks backlash

Coco Gauff, the 22-year-old American tennis player, expressed her outrage over the racist abuse she received on social media following her victory at the China Open. The match against local teenager Sun Xinran was marred by a replayed point that sparked an online backlash. Gauff was seen stopping play during a crucial moment in the first set, raising her hand to complain about a flickering advertising board as Sun was about to score a winning point.

After a video review, the umpire ordered the point to be replayed, which Gauff won, before going on to win the match 7-5, 6-1.

Gauff, who is Black, stated on X that the amount of racist comments and direct messages she received in the hours following the match was "insane." She clarified that people were free to dislike her or disagree with her actions without resorting to racist remarks. Gauff also emphasized that she was not a cheater or a thief. The Women's Tennis Association (WTA), in an effort to combat online abuse, has implemented an AI-powered system that monitors players and officials on social media.

However, a study conducted by the WTA and World Tennis revealed that players were subjected to over 12,000 abusive posts and messages on social media in 2025, compared to 8,000 posts the previous year.

Gauff further explained that she followed the rules when challenging the point and apologized to Sun for the situation at the end of the match. She recognized Sun's talent and applauded her for having an impressive career ahead of her. Despite the emotional state Sun was in, Gauff acknowledged the significance of the moment and the honor of sharing the court with her in front of her hometown crowd.