Coco Gauff says online racist abuse was ‘draining’ after China Open exit

Coco Gauff admits the racism she suffered during the China Open exhausted her after the US tennis star missed out on the quarterfinals.

Coco Gauff says online racist abuse has left her feeling exhausted as she lost to Elise Mertens in the China Open.

Gauff, 22, was playing a day after she called out the “insane” amount of abuse she had received on the internet following her win over Chinese teenager Sun Xinran in the previous round.

“But I just turn off my phone and move on. There’s nothing you can do.”

“There were a lot of things I didn’t do well. I thought Elise played well on the bigger points.”

The move prompted some boos from the crowd. The umpire agreed to have the point replayed, and Gauff went on to win 7-5, 6-1.

Gauff also clarified that she challenged the point before Sun had returned the ball, when she noticed the lights flicker for a second time.

Asked about the incident, a spokesperson for the Women’s Tennis Association, the global governing body, said it was “appalled by the racial abuse directed at Coco Gauff” and that it was “in contact with her to offer our full support”.

Gauff, who won the Beijing title in 2024 and made the semifinals last year, was popular among fans during the tournament.

Mertens was undeterred as she punched her ticket for a quarterfinal clash against Iga Swiatek.