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Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova Send Strong Message Over Coco Gauff Racist Abuse Row

Tennis star Coco Gauff has become the target of widespread racist abuse following her third-round match at the China Open in Beijing, where she faced criticism over a disputed point during her victory over Sun Xinran. After Gauff paused play to address what she believed was a visual distraction from flickering advertising boards, the chair umpire replayed the point, which she ultimately won.

The incident sparked a surge of online harassment, with Gauff publicly condemning the racist comments she received, emphasizing that disagreement over the call did not justify personal attacks. Her outspoken response prompted strong support from tennis legends Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, who defended Gauff’s character and condemned the vitriol directed at her.

Evert called Gauff ‘the most genuine, thoughtful, humble human being’ and criticized the ‘haters’ attacking her, while Navratilova echoed the sentiment with a blunt reply. Despite the controversy, Gauff’s performance in Beijing faltered, as she lost in straight sets to Elise Mertens in the fourth round, visibly struggling with fatigue and energy levels.

The 22-year-old later withdrew from the Wuhan Open, citing exhaustion after a grueling season and the need for rest and recovery.

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