The past 48 hours have been downright devastating for American tennis star Coco Gauff.
Despite picking up an impressive 7-5, 6-1 win over Sun Xinran at the China Open, fans accused Gauff of cheating. While serving down 5-4 in the first set, Gauff stopped a point mid-rally because the advertising signs on the side of the court flickered. Although it was clearly a hindrance, fans thought she was trying to cheat Xinran out of winning the set.
Once this match went final, Gauff addressed all the hateful messages and threats she received on social media.
“Hey everyone, you can dislike me or disagree about what happened without being racist,” Gauff said. “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.”
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Geoff Burke.
Roughly 24 hours later, Gauff suffered an upset loss to Elise Mertens in the Round of 16.
After suffering a loss to Mertens this Wednesday, Gauff announced that she won’t be competing in the upcoming Wuhan Open due to fatigue.
“I’m disappointed to withdraw from Wuhan, especially as the defending champion,” Gauff said. “I always love playing there. After a long year, my body needs some time to rest and recover. I look forward to returning next year.”
Tennis fans sending support to Coco.
Shortly after Gauff announced she’s withdrawing from the Wuhan Open, fans sent her encouraging messages online.
“I had a feeling she would do this- she must have been so upset and paranoid playing today she got so many death threats online from Chinese account,” one fan said. “Coco is an amazing young woman and a roll model around the world but a person should only have to put up with so much.”
“Absolutely right decision Coco needs a break and probably shouldn’t play in China again. Shame on WTA doing absolutely nothing as a young star victim of racism,” a second fan wrote on X.
“It’s probably more mental fatigue from dealing with evil people than from playing the game,” another fan commented.
Hopefully, Gauff will be ready – physically and mentally – for the WTA Finals. As for the awful messages she received online, let’s just say there’s no place in sports for that type of behavior.
