UN Condemns ‘Appalling’ Racist Abuse Directed at Coco Gauff Following China Open 2026 Controversy

The United Nations' human rights office has issued a strong condemnation of the racist abuse hurled at American tennis sensation Coco Gauff online, following a disputed point in her China Open third-round match against China's Sun Xinran on Monday, October 5, 2026. The office, led by High Commissioner Volker Türk, took to social media on Saturday, October 10, 2026, to denounce the messages as 'appalling' and to underscore that 'Black female athletes are specifically targeted for vitriol and racial abuse.' China Open 2026: Coco Gauff Condemns ‘Insane’ Racist Abuse After Win Over Sun Xinran.

The controversy arose during Gauff's match against the 16-year-old wildcard entrant Sun Xinran, which Gauff ultimately won 7-5, 6-1. During a critical rally, the 22-year-old Gauff stopped play, citing distraction from flickering advertising boards around the court. Following a video review, the chair umpire ruled for the point to be replayed, a decision that sparked a significant online backlash against Gauff.

Gauff Addresses 'Insane' Abuse

Ranked world No. 4 and a two-time Grand Slam champion, Gauff quickly addressed the deluge of online hostility. She revealed she had received an 'insane' amount of racist comments and direct messages on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. 'You can dislike me or disagree about what happened without being racist,' Gauff wrote, directly responding to a user who had posted a racial slur. She further clarified, '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.'

Impact and Broader Context

The emotional toll of the abuse was evident in Gauff's subsequent performance. Just two days later, on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, she lost to Elise Mertens 6-3, 6-3 in the Round of 16, a match where she admitted feeling 'no energy' and a sensation she might pass out. The WTA, the governing body of women's tennis, also released a statement, saying it was 'appalled by the racial abuse directed at Coco Gauff and are in contact with her to offer our full support.'

The UN Human Rights office emphasized the broader problem, stating, 'There is no place in sport for racial or sexist slurs and abuse. Players, coaches, and sports bodies need to stand up for those facing such attacks and fans need to push back against those who sully sport with racism and sexism.' This incident casts a spotlight on a concerning trend, with a joint study by the WTA and World Tennis revealing a significant increase in abusive social media posts targeting players, rising from approximately 8,000 in 2024 to over 12,000 in 2025.

After her draining experience, Gauff later withdrew from the Wuhan Open, citing a need for rest and recovery after a long year. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the persistent challenges faced by athletes, particularly women of color, in the digital age, demanding concerted efforts from the global sporting community to foster a more respectful and inclusive environment.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 15, 2026 05:14 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).