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Gauff hits out at racist abuse after replayed point in Beijing sparks backlash
Gauff said the abuse followed a replayed point she challenged under WTA rules after electronic boards flickered during play.
On Monday, American tennis star Coco Gauff halted a rally against 16-year-old Sun Xinran at the China Open after electronic advertising boards flickered; the chair umpire ruled the flicker a hindrance and ordered the point replayed.
Gauff explained she followed WTA rules allowing players to challenge points after play concludes, and apologized to Sun at the net, calling her an "incredible talent" who "completely understood."
Following the match, Gauff faced an "insane" amount of racist comments and direct messages on social media, condemning the hostility on X: "Hey everyone, you can dislike me or disagree about what happened without being racist."
The Women's Tennis Association condemned the racist abuse, stating there is "no place for racism, discrimination, or abuse in tennis," and cited 2025 data showing more than 12,000 abusive posts directed at players.
On Wednesday, Gauff exited the tournament after losing to Belgian Elise Mertens in the Round of 16, describing the preceding days as "kind of draining" after she turned off her phone to cope.