How the disputed call and online abuse shaped Gauff’s difficult week
Coco Gauff’s withdrawal from the 2026 Wuhan Open came after a difficult week at the China Open, where a disputed umpire decision sparked online racist abuse. The American defeated Sun Xinran in straight sets but later lost to Elise Mertens in the round of 16.
Gauff spoke publicly about the abuse and explained her need to rest after a demanding season. Her decision also means she will miss the chance to defend her 2025 Wuhan title.
Online abuse followed a disputed point
The controversy began during Gauff’s third-round match against 16-year-old Chinese player Sun Xinran at the China Open on October 5. Late in the first set, Gauff stopped a rally after noticing electronic advertising boards flickering beside the court while Sun prepared to return the ball.
Sun appeared positioned to win the point when play stopped, prompting questions about the interruption. The chair umpire reviewed the incident and ordered the point replayed, allowing the match to continue under the official’s ruling.
The umpire ordered the point replayed
Gauff explained that the flickering advertising boards distracted her during the rally and that she raised her hands to stop play before Sun struck the ball. The chair umpire reviewed the incident and determined that the distraction qualified as a hindrance outside the players’ control.
Under the ruling, the point had to be replayed rather than awarded to either player. Gauff won the replayed point and later secured the opening set, although the decision became a major topic of discussion online.
Gauff defeated Sun Xinran in straight sets
Despite the disputed point, Gauff completed her third-round match with a 7–5, 6–1 victory over Sun. The result advanced the American to the China Open’s fourth round, also known as the round of 16.
Sun, a 16-year-old Chinese player who had recently won the US Open junior girls’ singles title, was making her WTA Tour debut. Gauff later praised her opponent’s ability and said she apologized for the situation at the end of the match, which Sun understood.
Gauff publicly addressed the racist comments
Following her victory over Sun, Gauff posted on X about the racist comments and direct messages she had received. She said people could disagree with her actions during the match without resorting to racism, distinguishing criticism of the officiating decision from personal attacks.
Gauff also rejected accusations that she had cheated or stolen a point. Her response brought attention to the abuse that athletes can face on social media after controversial moments, particularly when sporting decisions become subjects of heated public debate.
Gauff apologized to Sun after the match
Gauff said she apologized to Sun at the end of their match because of the uncomfortable situation surrounding the interrupted rally. She also indicated that Sun understood her explanation, while emphasizing that she respected the young Chinese player’s talent.
The American expressed sympathy for Sun, who appeared emotional after the defeat in front of her home crowd. Gauff said she understood the pressure of competing at a major professional event as a young player, having experienced the demands of international tennis early in her own career.
The WTA condemned the racist abuse
The Women’s Tennis Association condemned the racist comments directed at Gauff following the incident at the China Open. The abuse prompted renewed attention to the challenges players face on social media, and the WTA has used an AI-powered monitoring system to help address online abuse targeting players and officials.
The organization’s response focused on the racist attacks rather than changing the umpire’s ruling on the disputed point. The incident showed how controversy surrounding a match can extend beyond the court and affect players through their public social media accounts.
Interesting fact: Coco Gauff defeated China Open champion Zheng Qinwen in the final and became the youngest WTA Finals singles champion since Maria Sharapova in 2004.
Gauff described the week as draining
After losing to Elise Mertens at the China Open on October 7, Gauff described the preceding days as emotionally draining. She said the racist messages had affected her and that she sometimes turned off her phone to help herself move on from the online comments.
Gauff also said she felt flat and was not moving well during her 6–3, 6–3 defeat. Although she discussed both the online abuse and her performance, she did not identify the abuse as the sole reason for her loss.
Interesting fact: Coco Gauff became the youngest American woman to win the US Open since Serena Williams in 1999.
Elise Mertens ended Gauff’s China Open run
Gauff’s campaign in Beijing ended on October 7 with a 6–3, 6–3 loss to Belgium’s Elise Mertens. The defeat came in the round of 16, preventing Gauff from advancing to the quarterfinals of the WTA 1000 tournament.
The result ended Gauff’s five-match winning streak against Mertens, who earned her first victory over the American in their sixth meeting. Mertens advanced after defeating the defending Wuhan champion in straight sets.
Unforced errors affected Gauff’s performance
Gauff committed 34 unforced errors against Mertens and recorded 8 double faults during her 6–3, 6–3 defeat at the China Open. The error count reflected a difficult performance for the American as Mertens secured her first career victory over Gauff.
After the match, Gauff acknowledged that she had not played well and said she was not moving well. She also recognized that she had struggled during the contest, which ended her run at the Beijing tournament.
Gauff is absent from her Wuhan title defense
Gauff won the 2025 Wuhan Open without dropping a set. Her withdrawal means she is absent from the 2026 tournament, which began on October 12 and runs through October 18. Wuhan is the season’s final WTA 1000 event.
Gauff expressed disappointment about missing a tournament she enjoys. She said her body needed time to rest and recover after a long year and that she looked forward to returning in 2027.
Other leading players also withdrew from Wuhan
Naomi Osaka also withdrew from the 2026 Wuhan Open. She had reached the China Open’s round of 16 before losing to Karolina Muchova in 3 sets.
World No. 1 Elena Rybakina and Amanda Anisimova are also absent from Wuhan. Rybakina withdrew with a foot injury. Their withdrawals changed the field for the season’s final WTA 1000 tournament, which began on October 12.
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Gauff is scheduled to represent the United States in November
The U.S. Tennis Association announced on October 7 that Coco Gauff would compete against Hungary in a Billie Jean King Cup playoff at the Delray Beach Tennis Center in Florida on November 21–22, 2026.
The tie offers Gauff a scheduled opportunity to represent her country later in the season. She withdrew from Wuhan after saying her body needed time to rest and recover following a long year.
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What do you think about the online abuse Coco Gauff faced after the disputed call? Share your thoughts in the comments, and like this post if you believe athletes deserve respect both on and off the court.
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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