Coco Gauff's campaign at the 2026 China Open has ended on a bitter note, with the American crashing out of the WTA 1000 event in the fourth round after an incident left her embroiled in controversy.
Serena Williams' former coach Rennae Stubbs has defended Coco Gauff after the American tennis player faced severe online abuse and racist attacks during the China Open. The controversy began after Gauff stopped play during her third-round win against Sun Xinran due to a flickering panel light, leading to a replayed point and accusations of cheating from critics. Stubbs strongly condemned the backlash on Substack, emphasizing that racism has no place in sport.
Gauff appeared depleted during her subsequent 6-3, 6-3 fourth-round loss to Elise Mertens, calling the situation a draining ordeal. Following the defeat, the World No. 4 decided to withdraw from defending her title at the Wuhan Open to prioritize rest and recovery ahead of the upcoming WTA Finals.
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