Coco Gauff has publicly addressed the racist abuse she endured following her second-round victory at the 2026 China Open in Beijing. The tournament’s No. 3 seed overcame 16-year-old local favorite Sun Xinran with a 7-5, 6-1 win on Monday, yet a contentious call during the match sparked a wave of negative reactions that escalated into racial insults.
What Happened During Coco Gauff’s Match in Beijing?
During the first set, with Gauff serving while trailing 4-5, an unusual disruption occurred. LED signage positioned behind Sun Xinran flickered mid-rally just as the Chinese player appeared to have secured the point. Following a video review, the chair umpire determined that the flicker constituted a hindrance under WTA regulations, resulting in the point being replayed.
Gauff won the replayed point and held serve, leveling the set at 5-5 before ultimately dominating the second set. Despite the ruling being consistent with the rules, the decision ignited a barrage of racist comments directed at Gauff online. Notably, Sun Xinran expressed support for the call, telling Gauff afterward that she “completely understood” the umpire’s decision.
In response to the abuse, Gauff took to social media to condemn the racist backlash. “The amount of racist comments/dms I’ve received in the last few hours is insane,” she wrote. “You can dislike me or disagree about what happened without being racist.”