Coco Gauff is speaking out after a wave of racist comments followed her second-round win at the 2026 China Open in Beijing. The No. 3 seed defeated 16-year-old homegrown talent Sun Xinran 7-5, 6-1 on Monday, but a disputed point in the first set sparked backlash that quickly turned ugly.
What Happened During Coco Gauff's Match in Beijing?
With Gauff serving down 4-5 in the opener, LED signage behind Sun flickered mid-rally just as the Shenzhen native looked to have closed out the rally.
After video review, the chair umpire ruled the flickering a hindrance under WTA rules and ordered a replay. Gauff won the point, held serve to level the set at five-all, then pulled away in the second.
Still, the call triggered a flood of racist messages and DMs online — even though Sun told Gauff afterward that she "completely understood" the decision.
@HHuotui https://t.co/ibmUEz84Qk
— Coco Gauff (@CocoGauff) October 5, 2026
"The amount of racist comments/dms I've received in the last few hours is insane," Gauff wrote on social media. "You can dislike me or disagree about what happened without being racist."
"I think it's weird I'm getting hate for following the rules," she continued. "It was an unfortunate situation but it is out of my control. I'm not a cheater or a thief."
The 22-year-old, coming off her Cincinnati Open title in August, had warm words for Sun's poise during and after the match, predicting fans would see plenty more of her. Gauff next faces No. 13 seed Elise Mertens in the Round of 16.
