The United Nations Human Rights Office condemned racist and sexist abuse targeting tennis player Coco Gauff online following her third-round match at the WTA 1000 tournament in Beijing, lefigaro.fr reported. The international body issued a statement on X calling on players, coaches, and sports organizations to unite against targeted vitriol after the American world No. 4 faced significant harassment on social media.
United Nations Condemns Online Abuse Targeting Coco Gauff in Beijing
The controversy began during Gauff’s third-round victory over China’s Sun Xinran, which ended 7-5, 6-1 in favor of the American. Mid-match, Gauff stopped play and raised her hand to complain about a flashing advertising board just as her opponent prepared to hit a potential winner. The chair umpire reviewed the video sequence and ordered play to resume, allowing Gauff to close out the straight-sets win. Following the match, Gauff shared messages on social media detailing the heavy volume of racist abuse she received over the incident.
“You can dislike me or disagree with what happened without being racist,” Gauff wrote in her online statement addressing the backlash. The United Nations Human Rights Office responded directly to the digital harassment, highlighting a pattern of abuse aimed specifically at Black athletes. “Racist messages such as those targeting tennis player Coco Gauff on the internet are revolting and show that Black athletes are specifically the target of virulent remarks and racist insults,” the agency stated on X. “There is no place in sport for racist or sexist insults and abusive remarks.”
Governing Bodies and Fans Urged to Take a Stand Against Discrimination
The United Nations Human Rights Office emphasized that combating online discrimination requires active intervention from all participants in the tennis ecosystem. In its public statement, the organization asserted that players, coaches, and governing bodies must defend athletes facing targeted attacks. Furthermore, the agency called on sports supporters to actively oppose individuals who taint athletic competition with racism and sexism.
Gauff advanced through the Beijing draw following the third-round encounter, maintaining her tournament schedule as tennis authorities and international monitors continued to address the broader issue of player harassment on digital platforms.
