Coco Gauff condemns racist abuse after China Open win over Xinran Sun

Coco Gauff defeated 16-year-old Xinran Sun 7-5, 6-1 in the third round of the China Open in Beijing on Monday, then condemned the racist abuse she received on social media following the match.

Gauff, the third seed, needed a resilient first set before pulling away in the second to book her place in the round of 16, where she will face 13th seed Elise Mertens on Wednesday. Sun, the world No. 582, had earlier beaten Eva Lys and Cristina Bucsa to reach the third round and was visibly distressed during the contest, crying at a changeover.

After the match, Gauff praised the teenager, saying she was “a little bit more mature than I was at 16” and calling her “an incredible player” with “the first of many matches” ahead of them.

It is not the first time Gauff has spoken out about online abuse. The 22-year-old has previously criticised the racist messages she receives from gamblers and trolls after matches, saying she sometimes spends “a solid 30 minutes just blocking trolls”.