Coco Gauff faced online racist abuse following a disputed video review during her match at the tennis tournament in Beijing, prompting the American tennis star and German icon Boris Becker to publicly condemn the harassment. WELT reported that the 22-year-old world number four was forced to defend herself on social media after receiving a flood of hateful messages and direct messages over the controversy.
Disputed Point Sparks Online Backlash in Beijing
The controversy unfolded during the first set of Gauff’s match against 16-year-old Chinese player Sun Xinran at the Beijing tournament. Trailing 4-5 and facing a 15-15 scoreline on her serve, Gauff approached the net and raised her hand after a weak volley to signal to the chair umpire that she was being visually distracted by changing LED advertising boards flanking the court.
Following a video review, the chair umpire upheld Gauff’s complaint. The point was replayed, allowing Gauff to hold her service game before securing a 7-5, 6-1 victory. Television cameras captured a visibly emotional Sun fighting back tears during a subsequent changeover.
Social Media Defense and Boris Becker’s Support
Taking to Instagram, the two-time Grand Slam champion rejected those assertions, emphasizing that she acted strictly in accordance with the rules and that the ultimate decision rested entirely with the chair umpire. She described the situation as unfortunate while expressing bewilderment at receiving abuse for following tournament regulations.
On X, formerly known as Twitter, Gauff issued a direct response to her harassers. Hello everyone, you can dislike me or disagree with what happened without being racist. The amount of racist comments and direct messages I’ve received in the last few hours is insane. And once again: I am neither a cheater nor a thief,
she wrote.
Boris Becker quickly stepped in to defend the American star, reposting her statement with a message of solidarity. You are a proud Black woman and we love you! Don’t care about the comments of these ignorant, stupid people and don’t look at them,
the three-time Wimbledon champion wrote. You are special and unique! Keep your head held high! Best regards from the Becker family!
A History of Speaking Out Against Discrimination
For Gauff, confronting racial injustice is a familiar public platform. Having grown up in Atlanta, Georgia, the American player has frequently used her visibility to address systemic inequalities and racial bias, particularly concerning social issues in the United States.
As the tournament in Beijing continues, the broader discussion surrounding on-court LED distractions and the safety of athletes in digital spaces remains an open question on the WTA tour, with tournament organizers yet to issue a formal policy adjustment regarding perimeter screen brightness.
