Controversy at the China Open has led to American tennis star Coco Gauff facing racially abusive language on social media following her Round of 32 victory over rising star Sun Xinran.
Gauff’s victory came with a mountain of controversy after she asked to replay a point when the LED boards on the side of the court flickered during the rally.
Some people on social media sent her racist messages after the match, prompting her to respond.
“Hey everyone, you can dislike me or disagree about what happened without being racist,” she wrote on X in response to one vulgar post that used a racial epithet. “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.”
The American trailed 5-4 in the set, and Xinran looked as though she was about to win the point to take a lead in the game when Gauff raised her arm.
The chair umpire ruled in Gauff’s favor after a video review. The World No. 4 went on to win the point as Xinran completely collapsed and lost in straight sets, 7-6, 6-1.
But Gauff’s decision had angered some fans, especially after broadcasters appeared to notice that the LED boards had been flickering before and Gauff played through it.
Gauff wrote a detailed response to the criticism toward her in an Instagram comment, starting off by saying that she had seen the LED boards flickering to start the point but “was not sure if that is what I actually saw.”
“We are told before the matches we are allowed to continue to finish play so KEEP IT MIND I am thinking about all of this while i’m playing the point.,” Gauff wrote. “Anything can be challenged after the point is over (as in most sports you can review a call after the play is over, I personally think is the correct rule). If I would’ve lost the point my opponent is also free to do the same thing and ask for a replay and she would’ve have been completely in her right to do so.”
She continued on in the comment, “when it flickered again I raised my hands before she hit her shot because this is when I was sure I saw the light flicker and it wasn’t my mind doing tricks lol (which again doesn’t matter because anything can be challenged after the point).”
Gauff did praise Xinran, who won the junior U.S. Open in September, and again pushed back on the narrative that was developing around her win.
“It was an unfortunate situation but it is out of my control, the think pieces and calling me an unfair is ridiculous when those are the rules,” she wrote. “I did not make them, I think it’s weird i’m getting hate for following the rules. Xinran is incredible talent and player, I apologized for the situation at the end of the match and she completely understood. I did not like to see her so emotional as l’ve been there and I really understand what it is like but this is just the beginning of an incredible career. It was an honor to share the court in front of her home crowd.”
