Coco Gauff condemns online racial abuse following China Open match

Coco Gauff reported that she suffered racial abuse on social media following an incident during her match at the China Open in Beijing, the BBC and Irish Independent reported. The American world number five defeated 16-year-old Chinese player Sun Xinran 7-5 6-1 to advance to the last 16. [1][3][8][10][12]

During the first set, Gauff raised her hand to stop play at 15-15 while serving at 4-5 down, citing flickering LED light panels surrounding the court, according to reports from the BBC and Tennis365. The interruption came just before Sun appeared set to win the point. Gauff went on to win the next three points to hold serve for 5-5 before taking the set and dropping only one more game in the match. [1][3]

Sun, who won the US Open girls' singles title last month, had held a 5-4 lead in the opening set before the stoppage, Tennis365 reported. Gauff previously won the US Open in 2023 and the French Open in 2025, according to the BBC. [1][3]

The China Open is held annually at the China National Tennis Center in Beijing as a WTA 1000 event on the women's tour, while the men's event is an ATP 500 tournament. [12]