2024 China Open champion Coco Gauff has spoken about the racist abuse she says she faced during this year’s tournament.
Gauff exited the 2026 China Open in the round of 16 after a 6-3, 6-3 defeat to Belgium’s Elise Mertens. The American revealed she had been subjected to racist comments following her third-round victory over China’s Sun Xinran.
Gauff beat Xinran 7-5, 6-1, but the match was overshadowed by an incident in the opening set when she stopped play to protest a flickering light on the court-side panel while Xinran was attempting to hit a winner.
A video review backed Gauff’s complaint, and the point was overturned. Gauff went on to win the set and the match, but said the incident triggered racist abuse directed at her online.
“It has been kind of draining, I’m not going to lie. I just turn off my phone and move on. I mean, there’s nothing you can do. I was just a bit flat”.
“That’s the main thing. The level was there at some points, I just didn’t sustain it the whole match [against Mertens]” Gauff said.
