Coco Gauff says online abuse was 'draining' after China Open loss
Tennis star Coco Gauff was eliminated from the China Open following a period of intense online harassment. Gauff admitted that the psychological toll of the abuse, which stemmed from a controversial match point, negatively impacted her performance.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the growing impact of social media toxicity on the mental health and professional performance of high-profile athletes.
Hear this story World No. 4 Coco Gauff made an early exit from the China Open, falling to Elise Mertens 3-6, 3-6 in the Round of 16. The loss came in the aftermath of Gauff receiving an 'insane' amount of racist comments on social media following a controversial point in her previous match.
Despite her efforts to maintain focus on the court, Gauff acknowledged that the psychological toll of the persistent online harassment weighed heavily on her, impacting her performance against Mertens.
"It has been kind of draining, I'm not going to lie," Gauff admitted to reporters. "I just turn off my phone and move on. There's nothing you can do."
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