Coco Gauff, the two-time Grand Slam singles champion, reported receiving an 'insane' amount of racist abuse on social media after a controversial point review during her third-round win over 16-year-old Sun Xinran at the China Open on October 5, 2026. The incident occurred late in the first set when Gauff requested a video review of a flickering advertising board, leading to the replay of a point she ultimately won. The dispute prompted Gauff to address accusations of unsportsmanlike conduct while condemning the racial slurs directed at her.
Gauff defeated Sun 7-5, 6-1 to advance to the fourth round, but the match was overshadowed by the controversy and subsequent online harassment. She later apologized to Sun for the situation, acknowledging the teenager’s emotional reaction to the loss. The WTA confirmed ongoing efforts to combat online abuse, citing a 2025 study that recorded over 12,000 abusive posts targeting players and officials, up from 8,000 in the prior year.
The disputed point and Gauff’s response
During the first set at 5-4, Gauff stopped play mid-rally, citing a flickering light on an electronic advertising board. The chair umpire reviewed the footage and ordered the point replayed. Gauff won the replayed point and held serve to level the set at 5-5 before securing the win. She later explained on social media that players are permitted to request video reviews for distractions, including flickering boards, and that she followed tournament rules. Gauff emphasized that she was not attempting to cheat, stating: 'Lastly, I'm not a cheater or a thief.'
Gauff also addressed a racial slur directed at her in a post on X (formerly Twitter), writing: 'You can dislike me or disagree about what happened without being racist.' She described the volume of abusive messages as unprecedented, adding that the harassment escalated after the match. The WTA’s AI-powered monitoring system, introduced to track online abuse, flagged the surge in harmful content, which X later limited for violating hate speech policies.
Sun’s reaction and Gauff’s remarks
Sun, who received a wild card entry and was making her WTA Tour debut, appeared visibly upset after the loss. Gauff acknowledged Sun’s talent and expressed sympathy for her emotional response, noting her own experience as a young player. 'I did not like to see her so emotional as I've been there,' Gauff said. 'It was an honor to share the court in front of her home crowd.' Tournament organizers had granted Sun a wildcard despite her recent U.S. Open junior title, highlighting her rising profile in Chinese tennis.
WTA’s stance on online abuse
The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has prioritized addressing online harassment, with a 2025 report documenting a 50% increase in abusive posts compared to the previous year. The organization’s AI system monitors social media platforms to identify and report harmful content targeting players and officials. Gauff’s experience underscores the persistent challenges athletes face in combating racial abuse and misinformation in competitive sports.
Tournament context and rules
The China Open, held at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, is one of the WTA’s premier events. Players are permitted to challenge certain calls, including distractions caused by electronic boards, under tournament regulations. Gauff’s decision to halt play was consistent with these rules, though it drew boos from the crowd. The WTA has not indicated plans to revisit the rules governing such challenges following the incident.