Coco Gauff revealed that the barrage of racist messages she endured online left her feeling completely drained after her surprising defeat to Elise Mertens at the China Open, an event that unfolded while Iga Swiatek advanced to the quarterfinals. The Belgian veteran, Mertens, snapped a six‑match losing streak against Gauff by securing a straight‑sets victory, 6-3 6-3, which propelled her into the Beijing quarterfinals on Wednesday. The loss came on the heels of what Gauff described as an "insane" wave of racist commentary that flooded her social‑media feeds after a contentious point in the previous round. While trailing 6-3, 4-1 to Mertens, Gauff confided to her box that she was running on empty: "I have no energy.
I'm trying, I have no energy. I can't see the ball, I feel like I'm going to pass out. I'm just going to try to finish the match." Her words underscored how the mental strain of the online abuse was compounding the physical demands of the match.
Earlier in the tournament, Gauff faced 16‑year‑old Chinese hopeful Sun Xinran. In a tense moment, Gauff was serving to stay in the first set at 4‑5 when Sun appeared to have hit a winner, but a flickering light on the side panels caused the American to raise her hand, signalling that the point should be stopped. The chair umpire obliged, ordering a replay. Gauff then rallied, taking the next three points to level the set at 5‑5, and eventually dropped only one more game before clinching the set.
When reporters in Beijing asked whether the hateful messages had affected her performance, Gauff admitted, "It has been kind of draining, I'm not going to lie. I just turn off my phone and move on. There's nothing you can do.
I think today I was just a bit flat. I just didn't play well. I think I wasn't moving well. There were a lot of things I didn't do well." The 22‑year‑old further explained on the social‑media platform X that the incident with Sun was "unfortunate" and beyond her control, adding that she had apologized to Sun after the match and that the young Chinese player understood the situation.
Gauff also responded to a directly racist reply to her post, stating, "Hey everyone, you can dislike me or disagree about what happened without being racist. 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." Her statement highlighted the emotional toll of receiving hateful messages in rapid succession, especially when they target her character rather than her play. Statistically, Gauff's performance that day was below her usual standards. She committed 34 unforced errors, a figure that contrasted sharply with Mertens' clinical play.
Mertens held 10 of her last 11 service points and sealed the match with a second‑serve ace, emphasizing her dominance. After the win, Mertens praised her opponent, saying, "She's an incredible player, of course. I knew it was going to be a very tough match, but I had motivation. My coach/boyfriend, it's his birthday tomorrow, so this win is dedicated to him and all the work we do." Following the China Open, Gauff withdrew from the Wuhan Masters 1000, citing fatigue and the need for recovery.
In a statement she expressed disappointment at missing the chance to defend her title, noting, "I'm disappointed to withdraw from Wuhan, especially as the defending champion. I always love playing there. After a long year, my body needs some time to rest and recover.
I look forward to returning next year." Looking ahead, Gauff is slated to represent the United States in the Billie Jean King Cup in November, where the American team will face Hungary on November 21‑22 in Delray Beach. Her participation will be closely watched, as fans hope she can rebound from the emotional strain of the recent incidents. In other tournament news, Iga Swiatek, a six‑time Grand Slam champion who has faced occasional dips in form this season, dispatched 18‑year‑old American Iva Jovic with a convincing 6-1 6-3 victory, breaking Jovic's serve twice in the final four games.
Swiatek will next meet Mertens, setting up a compelling clash between two of the sport's top talents. Reflecting on her own performance, Swiatek said, "For sure today I was using more of the chances that I got. I was more proactive, maybe changing the directions more instead of just being solid, more intense.
When I needed that, I could play long rallies and be in defence as well. Everything was working today. I feel like my game has improved." Swiatek also acknowledged the unpredictable nature of tournament play, noting, "Obviously sometimes playing the tournament is a bit tricky.
Not everything is depending on you. I believe what I'm doing makes sense moving forward. That gives me the most confidence.
For sure when you have great results on a match, it's always a good boost of confidence. But tennis is tough. You need to be ready for every match.
Your previous results are not going to give you anything. I'm going to push no matter what and we'll see how it goes." On the men's side, British No. 1 Arthur Fery made headlines at the Shanghai Masters by defeating former Grand Slam champion Marin Cilic 7-6 (7-2) 6-1, earning a spot in the second round against Karen Khachanov.
Fery, who reached the Wimbledon semifinals earlier in the summer, demonstrated the depth of talent emerging from the UK. The China Open and Shanghai Masters continue to attract global viewership, with streaming options available on platforms such as NOW and the Sky Sports app, allowing fans to watch live matches without a contractual commitment.
These tournaments not only showcase elite tennis but also highlight the ongoing challenges athletes face off the court, from online harassment to the physical demands of a grueling schedule. Overall, Gauff's experience underscores the broader issue of racism in sport and the mental resilience required to compete at the highest level.
While she continues to excel on the court, her candid discussion of the emotional impact of hateful messages serves as a reminder that athletes are human beings who deserve respect both on and off the field.