Tennis star Coco Gauff says she received an "insane" amount of racist abuse online after a controversial point during her victory over Sun Xinran at the China Open.

American tennis player Coco Gauff reported receiving an "insane" volume of racist comments and direct messages following her third-round match at the China Open on Monday. The controversy arose during her 7-5, 6-1 victory over 16-year-old Sun Xinran, when Gauff stopped play during a rally due to flickering electronic advertising boards. The chair umpire subsequently ordered the point to be replayed, a decision that drew significant criticism and accusations of cheating on social media.

The Incident and Online Reaction

The disputed point occurred late in the first set while Sun, a wildcard entrant making her WTA Tour debut, appeared to be in control of the rally. Following the umpire's ruling to replay the point, Gauff faced backlash from users on social media who accused her of cheating. In response to the vitriol, the 22-year-old world No. 4 stated on X that while fans are entitled to disagree with the match events, the racist nature of the abuse she received was unacceptable. She explicitly rejected labels of being a "cheater or a thief" and noted that she was simply following the rules of the game.

Gauff’s Interaction with Sun Xinran

Despite the tension surrounding the match, Gauff expressed support for her opponent, who recently won the US Open junior title. Gauff confirmed that she apologized to Sun after the match, stating that the teenager "completely understood" the situation. Gauff, who experienced competing on a major stage at a young age herself, expressed sympathy for Sun, who appeared visibly emotional following the loss. Gauff praised Sun as an "incredible talent" and stated it was an honor to play against her in front of a home crowd.