Coco Gauff said she had received an “insane” amount of racial abuse on social media after the two-time Grand Slam champion beat local teenager Sun Xinran at the China Open on Monday in a match where a replayed point set off an online backlash.
\n\nThe American won 7-5, 6-1 to reach the fourth round, but was targeted after stopping play during a crucial point in the first set, raising her hand to complain about a flickering advertising board just as Sun was about to put away a winner.
\n\nAfter a video review, the umpire ordered the point to be replayed. Gauff won the replayed point and held serve for 5-5 before cruising to victory against the Chinese 16-year-old.
\n\nGauff, 22, said she had received a barrage of abusive messages on social media after the match.
\n\n“You can dislike me or disagree about what happened without being racist,” Gauff, who is Black, said on X early Tuesday in reply to a post containing a racial slur.
\n\n“The amount of racist comments/direct messages I’ve received in the last few hours is insane.
\n\n“Lastly, I’m not a cheater or a thief.”
\n\nReuters has contacted the WTA, the governing body of women’s tennis, and…
Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/health