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Coco Gauff Withdraws From Wuhan Tournament After Receiving Threats Online

American tennis star Coco Gauff has withdrawn from the Wuhan Open after facing a surge of online threats and racial abuse following her recent matches. The 19-year-old, who defeated Sun Xinran in a tight 7-5, 6-1 victory at the China Open, became the target of intense criticism when fans falsely accused her of cheating during a point disruption caused by flickering advertising signs.

Gauff addressed the backlash directly, condemning the racist messages she received and insisting she was neither a cheater nor a thief. Her withdrawal from Wuhan—where she was the defending champion—comes after a disappointing upset loss to Elise Mertens in the Round of 16 at the U.S.

Open, compounding the mental strain of the online harassment. Fans have rallied around Gauff, praising her resilience while criticizing the lack of action from tennis authorities against the abuse.

The decision marks a rare pause in her grueling schedule, with Gauff citing the need for physical and mental recovery ahead of the WTA Finals.

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