Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova defend Coco Gauff after controversy at the China Open, ‘It’s really disturbing’

Coco Gauff's week in Beijing took a troubling turn when she was criticized for halting play during a point due to the LED advertising board changing. While she was within her rights to stop the point, her actions sparked a backlash that has left the young American player feeling distressed. Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert have come to Gauff's defense, both agreeing that she did nothing wrong by following the rules.

Chris Evert, in particular, expressed his dismay at the "disgusting" level of online abuse Gauff has faced, labeling it as "really disturbing." Despite the criticism, the tennis community has rallied around Gauff, with her former coach Brad Gilbert praising her character and Navratilova stating that "haters are gonna hate." Gauff herself acknowledged the toll the negative attention has taken on her, admitting in a post-match interview that she has "kind of" become drained and has withdrawn from the Wuhan Open.