American tennis superstar Coco Gauff is receiving support from the United Nations after becoming the target of racist attacks on social media following a disputed point at the China Open.

But what exactly happened to cause all this controversy?

It Started With One Point

On Monday, October 5, Gauff was competing against 16-year-old Chinese tennis player Sun Xinran during the China Open in Beijing.

The match was competitive, and Gauff was trailing 5-4 in the opening set when a controversial moment changed the momentum.

During a rally, Gauff raised her hand to stop play after noticing an electronic advertising board flickering along the side of the court.

The problem? Her opponent appeared to be seconds away from hitting a winning shot.

Sun and spectators were understandably frustrated by the interruption, especially considering how important the point was.

However, after reviewing video of the incident, the chair umpire determined that the flickering advertisement constituted an outside distraction and ordered the point to be replayed.

Under tennis rules, outside interference can justify replaying a point.

Gauff won the replayed point, eventually tied the opening set at 5-5, and went on to defeat Sun 7-5, 6-1.

Fans Accuse Gauff of Cheating

Almost immediately, video of the controversial moment began circulating on social media.

Some viewers accused Gauff of deliberately stopping play to prevent her opponent from winning the point.

Others questioned whether the umpire should have allowed the replay.

But what began as a disagreement over a tennis ruling quickly turned ugly.

Gauff revealed that she had received an overwhelming number of racist comments and direct messages, including accusations that she was a cheater and a thief.

The 22-year-old tennis star took to social media to defend herself.

“You can dislike me or disagree about what happened without being racist,” Gauff wrote.

She also described the amount of racist abuse she received as “insane.”

Gauff explained that she noticed the advertising board flickering earlier in the rally but initially wasn’t certain what she had seen. When it happened again, she raised her hands before her opponent struck the ball.

She maintained that she was following the rules and had no intention of cheating.

Gauff Shows Respect for Her Young Opponent

Despite the controversy, Gauff made it clear that she had nothing against Sun.

She praised the teenager’s talent and revealed that she apologized for the unfortunate situation following their match.

According to Gauff, Sun understood her explanation.

Gauff also expressed sympathy for the young player, who became emotional following the defeat.

The American star said she understood those feelings, having experienced similar disappointments earlier in her own career.

The Controversy Takes an Emotional Toll

The backlash didn’t end when Gauff walked off the court.

Two days later, on October 7, she suffered a surprising 6-3, 6-3 defeat to Belgium’s Elise Mertens, ending her run at the China Open.

Afterward, Gauff admitted the previous few days had been emotionally exhausting.

“It has been kind of draining, I’m not going to lie,” she told reporters.

She explained that she had been turning off her phone to avoid the negativity.

Gauff subsequently withdrew from the Wuhan Open, where she was the defending champion, saying her body needed time to rest and recover after a long season.

United Nations Condemns Racist Attacks

By Saturday, October 10, the controversy had attracted international attention.

The United Nations Human Rights Office publicly condemned the racist messages directed at Gauff, saying the incident highlighted the abuse Black female athletes continue to face.

In its statement, the UN described the attacks as appalling and called on athletes, coaches, sports organizations, and fans to stand together against racism and sexism.

The Women’s Tennis Association also issued a statement supporting Gauff.

The organization confirmed that its Threat Matrix team was monitoring the abusive messages, reporting inappropriate content to social media platforms, and seeking action against accounts responsible for the attacks.

A Bigger Problem in Professional Tennis

Unfortunately, Gauff’s experience is not an isolated incident.

A study conducted by the WTA and World Tennis found that professional tennis players were subjected to more than 12,000 abusive social media posts and messages in 2025, an increase from approximately 8,000 the previous year.

The growing problem has prompted tennis organizations to use technology and monitoring systems to identify online harassment and protect athletes.

For Gauff, a two-time Grand Slam champion who has become one of the most recognizable faces in professional tennis, the controversy has raised a question that goes far beyond the sport.

Fans may disagree with an athlete’s actions, question a referee’s decision, or criticize a performance.

But when does criticism cross the line?

In Gauff’s case, what began as a disagreement over a single point became a reminder that even some of the world’s most accomplished athletes aren’t immune to racial hatred.

And now, with the United Nations speaking out, the conversation has grown much bigger than tennis.