Coco Gauff Confronts Racist Abuse After China Open Match Controversy

Coco Gauff addresses racist social media comments after a disputed point in her China Open match against Sun Xinran.

October 6, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Beijing, China — Coco Gauff, a top-ranked American tennis player, has spoken out about an overwhelming wave of racist messages she received on social media following a controversial moment during her China Open match against Sun Xinran.

The incident occurred late in the first set of Gauff’s 7-5, 6-1 third-round victory over the 16-year-old Sun, who recently claimed the US Open junior title. During the point, electronic advertising boards near the court flickered, prompting Gauff to halt the rally.

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In a post on X, Gauff, who is Black, addressed the backlash, stating, “The amount of racist comments/dms I’ve received in the last few hours is insane.” She also clarified, “I’m not a cheater or a thief.” The chair umpire later ordered the point to be replayed, and Gauff went on to dominate the match.

After the game, Gauff expressed admiration for Sun, calling her an incredible talent and apologizing for the situation. Sun, making her WTA Tour debut after receiving a wild card, appeared visibly upset following the loss. Gauff, a two-time Grand Slam champion ranked No. 4, shared her empathy, saying, I did not like to see her so emotional as I’ve been there.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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