Gauff hits out at racist abuse after China Open incident

Coco Gauff claims she faced racist abuse following her victory over Sun Xinran at the China Open. The American tennis player, a two-time major singles champion, won 7-5, 6-1 in Monday's match, advancing to the fourth round. Gauff was criticized for halting play during a critical moment in the first set, when Sun was about to score a winning point.

An umpire ordered the point to be replayed after a video review. Gauff stated she followed the rules and was justified in her actions. She expressed shock at the amount of racial abuse she received on social media after the match, writing, "The amount of racist comments/direct messages I've received in the last few hours is insane."

Gauff also denied any cheating or theft allegations. She apologized to Sun for the incident and expressed sympathy for the young player's emotional state. Gauff and Sun discussed the situation at the end of the match, with Gauff apologizing for causing distress. She emphasized that this was the start of Sun's promising career and considered it an honor to share the court with her.