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Coco Gauff withdraws from Wuhan Open title defense after China Open loss, citing fatigue

Coco Gauff has withdrawn from her title defense at the Wuhan Open following her unexpected exit at the China Open, where fatigue and the emotional toll of recent events played a significant role. The 20-year-old Grand Slam champion lost in the fourth round to Elise Mertens in a 6–3, 6–3 defeat, marking her first loss to the Belgian in six prior meetings.

Gauff’s withdrawal comes after she faced intense online harassment, including racist abuse, during her win over Sun Xinran in the round of 16. The controversy stemmed from a disputed point where Gauff stopped play mid-rally, prompting a wave of backlash that she described as overwhelming and draining.

Despite her resilience in defeating Sun Xinran 7–5, 6–1, the mental strain contributed to her lackluster performance against Mertens, whom she had previously dominated. Gauff’s decision to skip Wuhan reflects both physical exhaustion and the broader challenges she has faced in recent tournaments.

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