Gauff Says Racist Abuse Left Her 'Draining' as China Open Run Ends in Beijing

Coco Gauff has described the racist abuse she received online as "draining," speaking candidly just a day after a wave of hateful messages flooded her social media accounts. The world number four made the remark following her straight-sets defeat at the China Open in Beijing, a loss that ended her campaign in the Chinese capital and came against the backdrop of an ugly online storm that has once again thrust the issue of racism in tennis into the spotlight.

The 22-year-old American, who is Black, acknowledged the emotional toll of the past 48 hours when asked how she was coping. She admitted the experience had been exhausting but said she had chosen to disengage rather than let the abuse consume her. Turning off her phone, she explained, was her way of moving forward, adding that there was little she could do about the anonymous vitriol directed at her.

Her comments came after a lackluster performance on court, where she fell 6-3, 6-3 to Belgium's Elise Mertens. Gauff struggled visibly with her serve, double-faulting eight times across the match in what many observers described as an uncharacteristically flat display. The defeat denied her a place in the quarterfinals of a tournament where she had previously enjoyed considerable success, having won the title in 2024 and reached the semifinals last year.

Reflecting on the match itself, Gauff was blunt in her self-assessment. She said she simply had not played well and felt her movement was off, listing a series of aspects of her game that failed to function as usual. She also gave credit to Mertens, noting that the Belgian raised her level on the important points. It was a gracious concession from a player who has consistently handled both victory and defeat with maturity beyond her years.

The abuse that overshadowed her week stemmed from an incident during her previous-round victory over Chinese teenager Sun Xinran. In that match, Gauff requested a video review after noticing flickering LED lights on the stadium's advertising hoardings. The challenge drew boos from sections of the crowd, though the umpire ultimately agreed to replay the point. Gauff went on to win that match 7-5, 6-1, but the episode quickly became a flashpoint online.

In the hours that followed, Gauff took to social media to address the torrent of hostility. She wrote that people were free to dislike her or disagree with what happened without resorting to racism, a direct response to a post containing a racial slur. She described the volume of racist comments and messages she had received in just a few hours as insane, drawing a line between legitimate criticism of an on-court decision and the targeted hatred she was encountering.

The Women's Tennis Association, the global governing body of the women's game, responded firmly. A spokesperson said the organization was appalled by the racial abuse directed at Gauff and confirmed it was in contact with her to offer full support. The WTA stressed that there is no place for racism, discrimination, or abuse in tennis and said it was actively seeking action against the abusive content, signaling that the matter has not been dismissed as an unfortunate byproduct of social media.

Gauff's treatment has reignited a broader conversation about the persistent problem of online racism directed at athletes, particularly Black women in predominantly white sports. While tennis has made strides in diversity and inclusion, incidents of this nature continue to surface, raising questions about how platforms, governing bodies, and tournaments can better protect players from coordinated harassment that often spikes during high-profile events.

The episode also highlighted the cultural and nationalistic tensions that can flare around officiating disputes in international sport. Gauff found herself at the center of a controversial moment involving a home favorite, and the resulting backlash on Chinese social media platforms fed a surge of hostile commentary. That she felt compelled to publicly distinguish between disagreement over a ruling and racist attacks underscored the difficulty of separating legitimate sporting debate from toxic abuse.

Notably, Gauff did not allow the online storm to define her experience in Beijing. She was warmly received by many fans throughout the tournament, and during Wednesday's match a small group of supporters in the largely empty stadium tried to rally her toward a comeback. The gesture served as a reminder that the hostility online did not reflect the reception she received from those watching in person.

Mertens, for her part, spoke generously about her opponent after securing the win. The world number 19 called Gauff an incredible player and said she had expected a very tough contest. The Belgian dedicated the victory to her coach, who is also her boyfriend, and advanced to a quarterfinal meeting with Iga Swiatek, adding another compelling chapter to her own strong run in Beijing.

Swiatek, meanwhile, continued her own impressive form by sweeping aside American teenager Iva Jovic 6-1, 6-3 in one hour and 35 minutes. The Polish world number nine said she felt in control from the start and believed she was improving with each passing day, positioning herself as a serious threat as the tournament moves deeper into its second week.

Other matches on the schedule included China's Zheng Qinwen, who was due to face 118th-ranked Alina Charaeva later on Wednesday, while Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, the sixth seed, was set to take on American Ann Li. The results will shape a quarterfinal field that now proceeds without one of its biggest drawing cards, following Gauff's sudden exit.

For Gauff, the coming days will involve reflection and recovery, both physically and emotionally. At 22, she remains one of the sport's most prominent figures and an outspoken voice on issues of race and mental health. Her willingness to name the abuse she endured, rather than absorb it silently, has once again placed an uncomfortable but necessary spotlight on the responsibilities of platforms, fans, and institutions to confront racism in sport.