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Coco Gauff says social media abuse after China Open point replay 'insane'

American tennis star hit with racial slurs after third-round match against local teenager Sun Xinran

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
Coco Gauff has said she received an 'insane' amount of racial abuse on social media following a contentious point replay during her third-round victory over Chinese teenager Sun Xinran at the China Open. The American two-time Grand Slam champion called out the racist comments on Tuesday, defending her decision to stop play and insisting she is not 'a cheater or a thief'.

Gauff beat 16-year-old Sun 7-5, 6-1 in Beijing on Monday to reach the fourth round. During a crucial point in the first set, Gauff raised her hand to stop play, complaining that a flickering advertising board had distracted her just as Sun was about to hit a winner. The umpire reviewed the incident and ordered the point to be replayed. Gauff won the replayed point, held serve for 5-5, and went on to win the set.

After the match, Gauff said she received a barrage of abusive messages. Writing on X early Tuesday, she said: "The amount of racist comments/direct messages I've received in the last few hours is insane." She added that people can disagree with her decision without being racist.

Gauff explained she was following the rules, as players are allowed to request video reviews when a distraction may have interfered with play. She said she spoke to Sun after the match and apologised. "Xinran's an incredible talent and player, I apologised for the situation at the end of the match and she completely understood," Gauff wrote. "I didn't like to see her so emotional... but this is the beginning of an incredible career."

The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) has introduced an AI-powered system to monitor online abuse. A study by the WTA and World Tennis found players were subjected to more than 12,000 abusive posts and messages in 2025, up from 8,000 the previous year.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The incident highlights the persistent issue of racial abuse directed at athletes on social media, even during routine sports events.
  • It underscores the emotional toll on players and the challenge for tennis governing bodies to enforce anti-abuse measures effectively.
  • The case may prompt renewed debate about the role of technology in both officiating and protecting players from online harassment.

Background

Coco Gauff, 22, became a global star after her breakout at Wimbledon as a teenager. She has been an advocate against racism and online hate. The China Open is a premier event on the WTA tour. The controversy over the replayed point sparked a backlash among Chinese fans on social media, leading to racial slurs directed at Gauff. The WTA has been increasingly focused on online safety, introducing AI monitoring tools in recent years.

Key Perspectives

Coco Gauff: She maintains she acted within the rules and condemns the racist abuse, stressing that disagreement should not cross into racism. She expressed respect for Sun. Sun Xinran: The 16-year-old Chinese player was reportedly emotional after the match, though Gauff said Sun accepted her apology and understood the situation. Critics/Skeptics: Some online users accused Gauff of unfairly disrupting play. However, the umpire's decision to replay the point suggests the distraction was valid. The racist nature of much of the criticism has been widely condemned.

What to Watch

  • How the WTA responds to this specific case and whether it leads to further action against abusive accounts.
  • The effectiveness of the AI monitoring system in identifying and curbing racial abuse.
  • The response from the China Open organisers and the broader tennis community regarding player protection.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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