American tennis player Coco Gauff revealed that online racist abuse took a significant toll on her after her early exit from the China Open, which concluded with a 6-3, 6-3 loss to Belgium’s Elise Mertens on Wednesday in Beijing. The world number four struggled throughout the match, committing eight double faults in a performance described as uncharacteristically lackluster.
Gauff, 22, had previously addressed the surge of abusive online comments following her victory over Chinese teenager Sun Xinran in the prior round. She described the experience as “draining” but said she coped by disconnecting from social media. “I just turn off my phone and move on. There’s nothing you can do,” she said after her defeat.
The controversy surrounding her previous match stemmed from Gauff’s request for a video review due to flickering LED lights on the stadium’s advertising boards, a call that some spectators met with boos. The umpire ultimately agreed to replay the point, after which Gauff secured a 7-5, 6-1 win. Responding to accusations on social media, Gauff emphasized that her challenge was made before her opponent returned the ball, disputing claims that it was unsportsmanlike.
The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) condemned the racist abuse directed at Gauff, describing it as “appalling” and affirming their commitment to supporting the player and combating discrimination within the sport. The WTA also reiterated a zero-tolerance stance on racism and abuse.
Following her defeat, Gauff announced she would withdraw from next week’s Wuhan Open, a prominent WTA 1000 event, citing fatigue. The Wuhan Open takes place from October 12 to 18 in Hubei province. “I’m disappointed to withdraw from Wuhan, especially as the defending champion. I always love playing there,” Gauff said in a statement released by the tournament. She added that, after a demanding season, she needed time to rest and recover and looked forward to returning next year.
Mertens advanced to the quarter-finals to face top seed Iga Swiatek, who had earlier defeated American teenager Iva Jovic 6-1, 6-3. Mertens praised Gauff as an “incredible player” and dedicated her victory to her coach, who is also her boyfriend.
On the same day, Chinese player Zheng Qinwen continued her strong run by overcoming Alina Charaeva in three sets, 6-1, 2-6, 6-4. The 54th-ranked Qinwen, celebrating her 24th birthday on Thursday, said the cooler temperatures and slowing ball speed affected her performance in the second set. She will face sixth seed Elina Svitolina of Ukraine in the quarter-finals.