Coco Gauff Calls Out ‘Insane’ Racist Comments After 16-Year-Old Opponent Gets Emotional Following Controversy

Coco Gauff found herself in some controversy in her match at the China Open against 16-year-old Sun Xinran, who was playing on home soil.

Gauff stopped a rally after electronic advertising boards lining the court flickered during a point late in the first set of her 7-5, 6-1 third-round victory over Xinran, a 16-year-old who recently won the U.S. Open junior title.

Sun appeared about to win the point when Gauff stopped playing, but the chair umpire then ordered the point to be replayed.

Gauff explained what occurred in the moment, but not before replying to a post on X calling her a racial slur.

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Gauff has called out racism in the past, saying she received similar comments from gamblers earlier this year.

Gauff then said that she saw a light “flicker” early on in the point “but was not sure if that is what I actually saw.”

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Gauff said she saw the light flicker again and raised her hands.

“It was an unfortunate situation but it is out of my control, the think pieces and calling me an unfair is ridiculous when those are the rules. I did not make them, I think it’s weird i’m getting hate for following the rules,” Gauff said.

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