Gauff reflects on difficult days following racist messages
Coco Gauff said she had a draining few days after receiving racist abuse online before her fourth-round China Open exit. She had explained a point replay incident in her third-round win over Sun Xinran and later condemned the abuse, while the WTA said it was appalled and offered support. Gauff then lost to Elise Mertens in straight sets.
Expanded:
Coco Gauff called the days before her China Open fourth-round exit exhausting after receiving racist online messages. The abuse followed her third-round win over 16-year-old Sun Xinran, when Gauff halted play because court-side panel lights flickered. A player-requested video review led to the point being replayed; Gauff won it and the match. She later explained the incident and condemned the abuse.
The WTA said it was appalled and was supporting Gauff while seeking action over abusive content. Gauff then lost 6-3 6-3 to Elise Mertens, making 34 unforced errors and eight double faults. Mertens will meet Iga Swiatek, who beat Iva Jovic 6-1 6-3. Gauff won Beijing in 2024.
Count: P1: Coco1 Gauff2 called3 the4 days5 before6 her7 China8 Open9 fourth-round10 exit11 exhausting12 after13 receiving14 racist15 online16 messages17. The18 abuse19 followed20 her21 third-round22 win23 over24 16-year-old25 Sun26 Xinran27, when28 Gauff29 halted30 play31 because32 court-side33 panel34 lights35 flickered36. A37 player-requested38 video39 review40 led41 to42 the43 point44 being45 replayed46; Gauff47 won48 it49 and50 the51 match52. She53 later54 explained55 the56 incident57 and58 condemned59 the60 abuse61. P1 61. P2: The1 WTA2 said3 it4 was5 appalled6 and7 was8 supporting9 Gauff10 while11 seeking12 action13 over14 abusive15 content16. Gauff17 then18 lost19 6-3(20) 6-3(21) to22 Elise23 Mertens24, making25 34(26) unforced27 errors28 and29 eight30 double31 faults32. Mertens33 will34 mee