Coco Gauff Opens Up About Racist Attacks and Cheating Accusations Prior to Shocking Tournament Exit

Coco Gauff, the world's No. 4-ranked tennis player, has withdrawn from the Wuhan Open following days of online abuse and racist attacks, according to US Weekly. The controversy began during her China Open match against 16-year-old Sun Xinran on October 5 when Gauff stopped play due to flickering LED advertising boards in her line of sight.

The umpire ordered a replay, and Gauff won the point 7-5, 6-1. However, some fans accused her of intentionally halting the rally because Sun Xinran had the momentum. Gauff addressed the backlash on X, stating that people can dislike her or disagree with the incident without being racist, but she received an overwhelming amount of racist comments and direct messages in the following hours.

She also praised Sun Xinran, calling her an incredible talent and player, and apologized for the situation at the end of the match. The incident drew mixed reactions online, with some defending Gauff and others accusing her of cheating. Following the controversy, Gauff lost her next match in the China Open to No. 19-ranked Elise Mertens, stating she felt "just a bit flat."

Wuhan Open organizers announced that Gauff would skip the tournament, which runs from October 12 to October 18.