Coco Gauff Calls Out Racist Messages, Explains Controversial Point in China Open

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After stopping a point mid-rally in the China Open, Coco Gauff said she received racist messages on social media.

Gauff, who beat 16-year-old Sun Xinran 7-5, 6-1 on Monday to advance to the Round of 16, responded to those sending her racist messages and explained that her stoppage of the match was legal.

"Hey everyone, you can dislike me or disagree about what happened without being racist. The amount of racist comments/dms I've received in the last few hours is insane. Lastly, I'm not a cheater or a thief," Gauff wrote on X.

During the first set, as Gauff was serving down, 5-4, 15-15, she raised her hand to stop the rally just as Sun hit what would have been a winner that would have put her two points away from taking the set.

Gauff stopped play because the advertisement boards behind Sun had flickered and changed their displays, as they had earlier in the point. The umpire reviewed the play through video and determined that the changing ads constituted a hindrance.

The Athletic's James Hansen noted that the WTA rulebook states, "A let should be called if a player is hindered by an event outside of her control (e.g., ball rolling onto the court, paper blowing onto the court, etc.) during play or her service motion."

Gauff won the point when it was replayed. She said in her post that Sun "completely understood" her decision to stop the point.

"I think it's weird I'm getting hate for following the rules," Gauff wrote on social media.

Following the win, Gauff will take on Elise Mertens in the Round of 16. The 22-year-old Gauff is looking for her second WTA title of the year after winning the Cincinnati Open in August.