American tennis player Coco Gauff has described the past few days as "draining" after she received online racist abuse following her third-round win at the China Open. The 22-year-old player was involved in a controversy during her match against 16-year-old Sun Xinran, where a point was replayed due to a flickering light on the court. Gauff posted a statement explaining the incident and later condemned the racist abuse she received in response.
The incident occurred when China's Sun thought she had hit a winner late in the first set, but Gauff raised her hand to halt play due to a flickering light in the side panels surrounding the court. A video review was requested, and the point was replayed, with Gauff winning it and subsequently clinching the match. However, Gauff faced an "insane" amount of racist comments and direct messages online, which she described as "draining".
The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) has expressed its support for Gauff, stating that it was "appalled" by the abuse. A spokesperson for the WTA said it was in contact with Gauff "to offer our full support" and was "seeking action" against the abusive content. Gauff was beaten 6-3 6-3 in her next match against Elise Mertens on Wednesday.
Gauff attributed her loss to Mertens as being "a bit flat" and committing 34 unforced errors and eight double faults. She stated that her level of play was present at some points, but she was unable to sustain it throughout the match. Mertens will play former world number one Iga Swiatek in the quarter-finals after Swiatek beat American teenager Iva Jovic 6-1 6-3.
The China Open is not the only tennis tournament that has seen action recently. In the Shanghai Masters, Britain's Arthur Fery beat Marin Cilic 7-6 (7-2) 6-1 in the first round. Fery came back from a first-set breakdown to dominate the former US Open champion in the second set and claim his first ATP Tour win since August.
Fery will next face Russia's 26th seed, Karen Khachanov. Meanwhile, Gauff's win at the China Open in 2024 seems to be a distant memory, as she continues to deal with the aftermath of the online abuse. The WTA's support for Gauff is a testament to the organization's commitment to protecting its players from online harassment.
The incident highlights the ongoing issue of online abuse in sports, with many players facing harassment and racist comments online. Gauff's experience serves as a reminder of the need for greater support and protection for players from online abuse.
Key points
- Coco Gauff received online racist abuse after her China Open win.
- The Women's Tennis Association has expressed its support for Gauff and is seeking action against the abusive content.
- Gauff lost her next match to Elise Mertens, citing being "a bit flat" as the reason for her performance.
