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Tennis Fans Defending Coco Gauff Amid China Tournament Controversy

American tennis sensation Coco Gauff faced a storm of online backlash following her 7-5, 6-1 victory over Sun Xinran in the Round of 32 at the China Open. During the match, Gauff called for a hindrance at 15-15 in the first set after advertising signs flickered mid-rally, leading to Sun’s point being replayed.

Despite the replay being a legitimate call, Gauff was met with accusations of cheating and a wave of racial slurs on social media. The 19-year-old responded with a firm statement, condemning the hateful messages and reiterating her commitment to integrity.

'The amount of racist comments I’ve received in the last few hours is insane,' Gauff said. 'I’m not a cheater or a thief.'

The tennis community swiftly rallied behind Gauff, with figures like six-time Grand Slam champion Boris Becker offering unwavering support. Becker praised Gauff’s resilience, calling her 'a proud Black woman' and urging her to ignore the ignorant criticism.

Fans also weighed in, condemning the racism and defending Gauff’s actions, with many highlighting the absurdity of targeting her over a single replayed point. The incident underscores the persistent issue of racial abuse in sports, even for athletes who have maintained a class act demeanor throughout their careers.

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