Key Takeaways
- Coco Gauff stopped play in Beijing due to shifting LED boards, prompting unwarranted cheating accusations and online abuse.
- Tennis legends Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova publicly defended Gauff’s adherence to tournament rules.
- Following an exhausting week and a round-of-16 defeat, Gauff decided to withdraw from the Wuhan Open.
Tennis legends rally around Coco Gauff after online abuse
Coco Gauff experienced a challenging tournament in Beijing, exiting in the round of 16 against Elise Mertens after a previous round-of-32 victory against 16-year-old Chinese player Xinran Sun sparked intense online controversy.
During a crucial moment against Sun, Gauff stopped play because an LED advertising screen shifted during an active point. Despite following standard tennis procedure, she faced accusations of cheating and received significant racist hostility on social media. Gauff subsequently defended herself online, stating that she was not a thief or a cheat, while noting the high volume of abusive messages aimed at her.
Support from former champions and subsequent withdrawal
Tennis icons quickly rallied to support Gauff. Chris Evert defended her actions on social media, emphasizing that the player acted within regulations and stating, “It’s really disturbing to see her going through this turmoil.”
Martina Navratilova backed Evert’s assessment, writing, “Haters are gonna hate.” Navratilova added that the reaction was ridiculous and noted her complete agreement with Evert. Gauff’s former coach, Brad Gilbert, similarly voiced his agreement.
LED board disruptions had also surfaced elsewhere in the tournament, causing Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev to dispute similar issues with an umpire during their quarter-final. Following her defeat by Mertens, Gauff described the ordeal as draining, explaining that she chose to switch off her phone to move forward. She has subsequently pulled out of the Wuhan Open.
Cori Gauff in 2026
Ranked world no.4, Coco played her last match on the 7th of October when she lost to world no.19 Elise Mertens 6-3 6-3 in the 4th round in Beijing (draw).
Until now, during this year Coco owns an overall 47-15 record. The American clinched 1 title in Cincinnati.
