The Matchup Drama
Coco Gauff just secured a 7-5, 6-1 win against Sun Xinran at the China Open, but the vibes were definitely off after the match. During the first set, Gauff paused a rally because the electronic advertising boards around the court started flickering. The chair umpire opted to replay the point—a call that actually follows the rules, as we saw during the Zverev-Djokovic match just a day prior.
The Aftermath
While the 16-year-old Sun appeared super emotional after her WTA debut loss, Gauff was quick to show solidarity. She shared that she apologized to Sun at the net and praised her talent. “I did not like to see her so emotional as I’ve been there and I really understand what it is like,” Gauff said, keeping it real about her own teenage career debut. But the real L here came from the internet. Gauff, who is Black, took to X to shut down a massive wave of racist DMs and comments she received post-match.
Calling Out The Hate
Real talk: Gauff wasn't having it. She hit back at the trolls, clarifying that you can disagree with a call without being racist. “The amount of racist comments/dms I’ve received in the last few hours is insane,” Gauff wrote. She made it clear: she’s not a cheater, she just knows the rules. Say less. She’s now locked in for her next match against Elise Mertens this Wednesday.
Why it matters
Racist abuse in sports remains a massive issue that ruins the game for everyone; Gauff is using her platform to demand basic respect while keeping her focus on her path to the trophy.
