Key Takeaways
- Coco Gauff overcame 16-year-old Sun Xinran 7-5, 6-1 to reach the fourth round of the China Open.
- A controversial video review replayed a point at 5-5 in the first set after Gauff was distracted by LED screens.
- Despite brief boos from the stands, Gauff described the spectators as “pretty respectful”.
How a disputed video review shifted the mood in Beijing
World number 4 Coco Gauff navigated past 16-year-old Sun Xinran at the China Open, earning a 7-5, 6-1 victory that included a contentious moment late in the opening set. Serving at 5-5, 15-15, the American stopped play after striking a weak volley, pointing toward shifting LED screens along the court perimeter. Although Sun struck a forehand winner on the exchange, a video review led to the point being replayed. Gauff took that replayed point, while Sun managed to secure only one additional game for the remainder of the contest.
The incident briefly provoked audible frustration from the local spectators, but Gauff clarified in her press conference that she held no negative feelings toward the atmosphere. Instead, she described the supporters as “pretty respectful” once the reason for the stoppage became apparent, noting that the reaction was very brief.
Match statistics
| Metric | Coco Gauff | Sun Xinran |
|---|---|---|
| Aces | 5 | 1 |
| Double faults | 4 | 3 |
| 1st serve % | 60% | 51% |
| Win % on 1st serve | 61% | 61% |
| Win % on 2nd serve | 64% | 25% |
| Break points | 6/8 | 2/2 |
Assessing a rising talent on the tour
Addressing the brief hostility during the review, Gauff noted that she has experienced far louder settings elsewhere on tour, recalling the crowd energy during her final against Jasmine Paolini in Rome. She believed spectators originally assumed she was protesting their noise rather than the arena lights.
Gauff also offered substantial praise for Sun, the 2026 US Open junior champion who had advanced through earlier rounds against Eva Lys and Cristina Bucsa. The American explained that she did not view the match as looking into a mirror because of their differing styles. She highlighted the teenager’s athleticism and flat groundstrokes, predicting that Sun will develop into a top competitor in the coming seasons. The win moves Gauff into a fourth-round meeting with Elise Mertens.
WTA Beijing - Cori Gauff's projected path
Gauff in Beijing, ranking, and results in 2026
Ranked no.4, Gauff has an overall 47-14 record in 2026. Gauff is participating in Beijing where she managed to beat the world no.66 Maria Camila Osorio Serrano 7-6(4) 4-6 6-2 and the world no.582 Xinran Sun 7-5 6-1.
Cori Gauff will compete against the world no.19 Elise Mertens in the 4th round on Wednesday at 2:15 pm on Court 1. Their current head to head is 5-1 for Gauff.
The American clinched 1 title in 2026 in Cincinnati.
Gauff won 13 titles in her career: 9 on hard courts, 2 on clay courts and 2 on indoor courts. (See the list of her titles)
