Coco Gauff abuse: Star ‘draining’ days after shock exit

Coco Gauff abuse leaves her feeling 'drained'

Gauff has described the past few days as "draining", after a wave of racist abuse followed her through to a fourth-round China Open exit this week.

The 22-year-old was targeted online after a contentious moment in her win over Sun Xinran, a 16-year-old from China.

Gauff had halted play during that third-round match over a flickering light at the side of the court.

A video review, which players are entitled to request, backed her stoppage, and she went on to win the replayed point and the match.

The posted her own account of what happened, in a BBC Sport account of the fallout, condemning the abuse that followed, some of it sent to her directly.

WTA says it is 'seeking action' over the abuse

Asked about the past 36 hours, Gauff said: "It has been kind of draining, I'm not going to lie. I just turn off my phone and move on. I mean, there's nothing you can do."

The American, who won the Beijing title in 2024 and reached last year's semi-finals, went on to lose 6-3 6-3 to Belgium's Elise Mertens in the fourth round on Wednesday.

A WTA spokesperson said the organisation was "appalled" by what Gauff received and was in direct contact with her "to offer our full support".

The WTA also told the agency AFP it was "seeking action" against the abusive content.

Gauff put the defeat down to a flat display rather than the abuse itself.

"I was just a bit flat," she said.

"The level was there at some points, I just didn't sustain it the whole match."

She finished the match with 34 unforced errors and eight double faults.