The American rejected accusations of cheating after an umpire ordered a point replayed.
Coco Gauff said she had received racist comments and direct messages after a disputed call in her third-round match at the Beijing tournament. The American defeated 16-year-old Chinese player Sun Xinran 7-5, 6-1.
At 4-5, 15-15 in the opening set, Gauff raised her hand near the net to tell the chair umpire she had been distracted by flickering LED advertising boards. After a video review, the umpire ruled the interference was external and ordered the point replayed. Gauff went on to win the point, game and set.
Gauff said she had followed the rules and that the decision was the umpire’s. She rejected accusations of cheating. Three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker voiced support for her and urged her not to pay attention to the abuse.
The Associated Press reported the same Beijing win and the umpire’s video-review decision. The DPA report carried by Tagesspiegel noted that Gauff has previously spoken publicly against racism.