American tennis star Coco Gauff revealed she received an overwhelming volume of racist comments across her social media platforms following a disputed point during her China Open match against home favorite Sun Xinran. Gauff secured a 7-5, 6-1 victory in the third-round encounter on Monday, but the match became a talking point due to a controversial incident late in the first set. During the exchange, electronic advertising boards lining the court flickered, prompting Gauff to request a video review. The decision drew boos from the spectators inside the venue. Sun appeared poised to win the point before Gauff stopped play, leading the chair umpire to order a replay of the point. Following the contest, Gauff addressed the online backlash directly on X. She emphasized that fans are welcome to dislike her or disagree with the unfolding of events, but stressed that crossing the line into racial abuse is unacceptable. She noted that the surge of direct messages and comments containing racist language was alarming and explicitly denied accusations labeling her a cheater or a thief. Gauff also took time to praise her 16-year-old opponent, Sun, who recently claimed the U.S. Open junior title and received a wild card entry for her WTA Tour debut. Sun appeared visibly emotional and distraught following the conclusion of the match. Gauff shared that she apologized to Sun for the awkward situation at the net and confirmed the teenager understood. Having experienced the pressures of the professional tour at a young age herself—reaching the Wimbledon fourth round as a 15-year-old in 2019—Gauff expressed deep sympathy for her opponent. She noted that she disliked seeing Sun so upset because she deeply relates to those early career pressures, adding that it was an honor to share the court with such an exceptional talent in front of her home crowd.
Source: cbsnews.com
