Coco Gauff Faces Online Abuse After China Open Exit, Skips Wuhan Tournament

BEIJING: American tennis star Coco Gauff expressed her exhaustion from online racist abuse following her defeat to Elise Mertens at the China Open on Wednesday. The world number four announced she would skip next week’s tournament in Wuhan after a disappointing performance that saw her lose 6-3, 6-3.

Gauff, 22, struggled throughout the match, committing eight double faults and failing to find her rhythm against the Belgian opponent. This loss came just a day after she highlighted the overwhelming amount of online harassment she faced after her previous victory over Chinese teenager Sun Xinran.

“It has been kind of draining. I’m not going to lie,” Gauff remarked about the impact of the online comments. “But I just turn off my phone and move on. There’s nothing you can do.” Reflecting on her match, she acknowledged, “I think I just didn’t play well. I think I wasn’t moving well,” while crediting Mertens for her performance during crucial points.

The incident underscores the ongoing issue of online abuse faced by athletes, particularly those from marginalized communities. Gauff’s decision to withdraw from the Wuhan tournament raises questions about the mental health challenges athletes endure in the face of public scrutiny and harassment. As she takes time to recuperate, the tennis community continues to grapple with the need for more robust measures against online hate.