Photo via Yahoo Sports

Chris Evert calls out Coco Gauff’s critics after disturbing backlash rocks tennis star

Coco Gauff faced a storm of online criticism after calling a challenge during her 7-5, 6-1 third-round victory over Sun Xinran at the China Open in Beijing. The controversy erupted when Gauff halted play mid-point, citing a flickering electronic advertising board that she said distracted her.

After a video review confirmed the disruption, the chair umpire replayed the point in Gauff’s favor, allowing her to level the opening set at 5-5 before dominating the second. Despite following the rules, Gauff was inundated with racist messages on social media shortly after the match, prompting her to publicly reject accusations of cheating or dishonesty in a swift response to online backlash.

Her sportsmanship extended beyond the court, as she later apologized to Sun, who reportedly understood the situation and praised Gauff’s future potential as a rising star in women’s tennis.

The outpouring of support for Gauff gained momentum when tennis legend Chris Evert, a 18-time Grand Slam champion, took to social media to defend the 19-year-old. Evert emphasized that Gauff had acted within the rules and described her as genuine, thoughtful, and humble, shifting focus from the disputed call to the abusive messages Gauff had endured.

Evert’s endorsement carried significant weight, given her storied career and her past role as WTA president, reinforcing the broader tennis community’s backing of Gauff during the controversy.

Up nextTennis· 1h ago

“Stop The Excuses” – Fans Turn On Carlos Alcaraz After Spaniard Blames Shanghai Masters Balls For Shock 3R Loss