Coco Gauff speaks out against racist abuse following her China Open match in Beijing.
American tennis star Coco Gauff has spoken out strongly against the online racial abuse she faced following a controversial moment during her match at the China Open tournament in Beijing.
The world number four defeated 16-year-old Sun Xinran 7-5, 6-1 to reach the last 16, but the victory was marred by a wave of hateful messages sent to her social media accounts after she paused a point, according to information published by BBC.
The incident occurred in the first set when Gauff raised her hand to stop play due to a flickering light panel, prompting immediate backlash from online critics who accused her of unfair play before she ultimately secured the win.
Controversial China Open Incident
During the opening set with Gauff serving at 4-5, her opponent believed she had hit a winner on the court in Beijing. However, Coco Gauff raised her hand to halt the rally because of a distracting flickering light in the side panels surrounding the court.
The American player quickly won the next three points to hold serve for 5-5. She then dominated the remainder of the contest, dropping just one more game to claim a 7-5, 6-1 victory against Sun Xinran and advance further in the tournament.
Social Media Backlash And Racism
Following the match, the world number four gave a lengthy explanation on X to clarify why she stopped the point, describing the event as an unfortunate situation that was completely out of her control while noting that her opponent understood and accepted her apology.
When responding to a reply on her original post, Coco Gauff revealed the shocking scale of the harassment. She stated that people can disagree about what happened without being racist, adding that the amount of racist comments and direct messages she received was insane.
Escalating Abuse In Women Tennis
The alarming incident highlights a broader, persistent crisis regarding online harassment across the sport. Coco Gauff is far from the first female player to suffer severe social media abuse from hostile users following intense matches.
A startling report published in July revealed that female players were subjected to more than 12,000 abusive posts and messages on social media throughout 2025, prompting governing bodies to demand urgent measures.
Calls For Collective Action In WTA
In response to the mounting crisis, the WTA and World Tennis have stepped forward to address the toxic environment. Officials stated that collective action is strictly required to make significant progress in tackling online abuse.
Athletes across the tour continue to speak out about the pervasive nature of racist, misogynistic, and homophobic remarks, pushing sports organizations to implement stronger protective measures for players.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Coco Gauff stop the point at the China Open?
Coco Gauff raised her hand to halt play because of a flickering light in the side panels surrounding the court in Beijing.
What did Coco Gauff say about the racist abuse?
Coco Gauff stated that people can disagree about what happened without being racist and noted the insane amount of racist messages she received.
How many abusive posts did female tennis players face in 2025?
A report published in July showed that female tennis players were subjected to more than 12,000 abusive posts and messages on social media in 2025.
What did the WTA say about online abuse in tennis?
The WTA and World Tennis stated that collective action is required to make significant progress in tackling online abuse against players.
