Delray Beach, Fla. – Two‑time Grand Slam champion Coco Gauff, ranked No. 4 in the world, spoke out after receiving a flood of racist messages on social media following a controversial point in her third‑round match at the China Open.
During the match, an electronic advertising board flickered, prompting Gauff to stop play. The chair umpire ordered the point to be replayed, and Sun Xinran, the 16‑year‑old Chinese player who had just won the U.S. Open junior title, appeared poised to win the point.
Gauff’s response on X
Gauff posted on X, “Hey everyone, you can dislike me or disagree about what happened without being racist. The amount of racist comments/DMs I’ve received in the last few hours is insane. Lastly, I’m not a cheater or a thief.” She emphasized that criticism should be respectful and not cross the line into hate.
Apology and empathy for Sun
After the match, Gauff added, “Xinran is an incredible talent and player, I apologized for the situation at the end of the match and she completely understood.” She expressed sympathy for Sun, noting that the young Chinese star was visibly upset after the loss.
“I did not like to see her so emotional as I’ve been there and I really understand what it is like but this is just the beginning of an incredible career,” Gauff said, praising Sun’s talent and the honor of sharing the court in front of her home crowd.
Gauff’s victory, 7‑5, 6‑1, moves her deeper into the tournament and adds to her impressive resume, which includes a fourth‑round Wimbledon run as a 15‑year‑old in 2019.
Fans and officials are urged to condemn racist abuse and support athletes of all backgrounds as they compete on the world stage.
Original reporting: WPBF (Treasure Coast / Hearst) — read the source article.
