Coco Gauff’s 2026 China Open campaign concluded on a difficult note, with the American suffering a fourth-round exit following a controversy that sparked significant online harassment. Serena Williams’ coach, Rennae Stubbs, has since rallied to support the 22-year-old, issuing a firm denunciation of the racist attacks leveled against her.
The tension originated during Gauff’s third-round victory against Sun Xinran, which she won 7-5, 6-1. While trailing 4-5 in the first set, the world number four paused play after noticing a flickering light on the side panels just before Sun attempted a winner. The umpire ruled that the point should be replayed, a decision Gauff subsequently won. This outcome triggered a wave of intense criticism, including what has been described as an insane amount of racist abuse directed at the American.
When Gauff returned for her fourth-round match against Elise Mertens, she struggled to maintain her level, later telling her team she felt completely drained of energy. Mertens, who had previously lost all five of her head-to-head encounters against Gauff, capitalized on the situation to secure a 6-3, 6-3 victory. Addressing the media after the loss, Gauff acknowledged that the ordeal was mentally and emotionally exhausting. Meanwhile, Mertens delivered a strong performance and overcame her 0-5 head-to-head record against the American to claim a 6-3, 6-3 victory.
In a newsletter posted to Substack, Stubbs criticized the behavior of bettors, sycophants, and specifically those launching racist attacks. Emphasizing that there is no place for racism in sport, Stubbs highlighted the heavy toll the vitriol had taken on the player. Following her exit from the tournament, Gauff decided to withdraw from the Wuhan Open to prioritize recovery and fatigue management, choosing to forgo her title defense at the WTA 1000 event.
Currently ranked fifth in the Race to the Finals with 5,654 points, Gauff is expected to return to competition at the WTA Finals in Indian Wells, which begins on November 8, provided she confirms her qualification.
