Coco Gauff exits China Open after condemning racist online abuse

The dispute began during Coco Gauff's China Open victory over Sun Xinran in Beijing. Gauff stopped play during a crucial first-set point after being distracted, and the point was replayed, according to Al Jazeera.

The BBC reported that Gauff was serving at 4-5 in the first set against the 16-year-old Chinese player. Der Spiegel described the distraction as coming from LED displays in the arena and reported that Gauff's complaint was upheld. Sun was close to tears.

On October 5, Sky Sports reported that Gauff said she had received racist abuse on social media following the incident in her win over Sun. The dispute over a point had become an episode of online racial abuse directed at the American player.

Coverage on October 6 detailed Gauff's response. She described receiving an "insane" amount of racist comments, according to ESPN, which dated the match to Monday, October 5.

Gauff also pushed back against accusations about her conduct. The Times of India reported her response, "I'm not a cheater." Die Welt reported that Boris Becker supported her as she challenged the racist comments.

By October 7, Gauff's tournament had ended. ESPN reported that she lost to Elise Mertens, an opponent she had beaten in all five of their previous meetings, and said the abusive comments had been draining.

Gauff is out of the China Open, but her account of the abuse remains a central part of the story. Sky Sports reported on October 7 that she said she had been left drained by the racism she experienced during the tournament.

The coverage establishes that Gauff described an emotional toll alongside her defeat. It does not establish that the abuse caused her loss to Mertens.