Coco Gauff loses after citing an ‘insane’ wave of racist abuse following previous match in Beijing
Tennis star Coco Gauff lost in the China Open quarterfinals after reporting a wave of racist abuse on social media. The abuse followed a controversial incident in a previous match where Gauff stopped play due to flickering advertising boards.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the ongoing issue of online harassment directed at professional athletes and the challenges of managing digital abuse in sports.
Coco Gauff loses after citing an ‘insane’ wave of racist abuse following previous match in Beijing left In Monday’s match against home player Sun Xinran, Gauff stopped a rally after electronic advertising boards lining the court flickered during a point late in the first set. AP AP https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/iu0n2z/article71555077.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/China_Open_Tennis_371_3.jpg Achmad Ibrahim Coco Gauff of the United States leaves the court after losing against Elise Mertens of Belgium in the fourth round of the women's singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim) Beijing The 19th-ranked Elise Mertens beat the fourth-ranked Gauff 6-3, 6-3 to reach the China Open quarterfinals on Wednesday. Coco Gauff lost to a player she had beaten in all five of their previous matchups after receiving what she described as an “insane” amount of racist comments on social media following a controversial point in the preceding round.
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