Coco Gauff Routs Teenager in Beijing After Racist Abuse Online Backlash

Coco Gauff faced an insane volume of racist direct messages and social media comments immediately following her 7-5, 6-1 victory over 16-year-old Sun Xinran in Beijing. The 22-year-old American champion addressed the vitriol directly on X, stating that viewers could disagree with the match events without resorting to racism while clarifying she is neither a cheater nor a thief. The online backlash followed a pivotal moment in the first set when Gauff stopped play at 4-5 to report a flickering advertising board that she believed acted as a hindrance. Following a video review, the umpire permitted the point to be replayed, which Gauff subsequently won to hold serve and eventually dominate the remaining sets. According to BBC and TODAY.com, rules allow players to request such reviews if they believe a distraction has interfered with play. Gauff confirmed she apologized to Sun at the net, describing the teenager as an incredible talent and noting that Sun understood the situation was beyond anyone's control. The issue of online harassment remains a significant concern for the sport, as the WTA and World Tennis reported that female players were subjected to 12,000 abusive posts throughout 2025. This figure marks an increase from 8,000 recorded in the previous year. In response to the growing trend, the WTA has implemented an AI-powered system designed to monitor and address such content directed at players and officials. Gauff is now slated to compete in the tournament's last 16 phase.