Coco Gauff Forced to Step Away After Controversy and China Open Defeat

Coco Gauff’s China Open campaign came to an abrupt end after the American suffered a straight-sets defeat to Elise Mertens, following a difficult few days that saw her face intense backlash over a controversial moment in her previous match.

Gauff’s run Beijing ended with a 6-3 6-3 loss to Elise Mertens in the fourth round. The American struggled to find her rhythm throughout the match, committing several unforced errors and eight double faults and Mertens advanced to the quarterfinals.

Mertens quickly settled into the match and was able to take advantage of Gauff’s mistakes. The 22-year-old struggled to find consistency from the baseline and could not build enough momentum to challenge her opponent.

The defeat came only days after Coco found herself at the center of controversy during her previous match against Sun Xinran.

Towards the end of the first set, the LED advertising panels surrounding the court began flashing during a point. Sun was close to winning the rally when Gauff paused the game after being distracted by the lights.

The chair umpire subsequently ruled that the point should be replayed. Gauff eventually went on to win the match 7-5 6-1, but the decision generated significant discussion online, particularly among fans who questioned whether the point should have been stopped.

While criticism continued online, Gauff revealed that the reaction had gone beyond discussion of an on-court incident.

The two-time Grand Slam champion addressed the situation publicly, explaining that fans were free to disagree with her actions or criticize the decision, but should not resort to racist abuse.

“The amount of racist comments/dms I’ve received in the last hours is insane” Gauff wrote on social media. She express her gratitude to Sun while rejecting accusations that she had deliberately attempted to cheat or gain an unfair advantage during the match.

September 5, 2026 Coco Gauff of the U.S. celebrates after winning her third round match against Spain’s Cristina Bucsa REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz

Gauff’s China Open exit was followed by another change to her schedule, with the American withdrawing from the Wuhan Open due to fatigue.

“I’m disappointed to withdraw from Wuhan, especially as the defending champion. I always lobe playing there. After a long year, my body needs some time to rest and recover. I look forward to returning next year,” Gauff said in a statement.

The withdrawal is particularly notable given Gauff’s success at the tournament last year. The current World No. 4 enjoyed a strong run at the tournament in 2025, defeating fellow American Jessica Pegula in straight sets in the final. The victory gave Gauff another major title during the Asian swing and made her the player to beat heading into this year’s event.

Her withdrawal comes as the WTA season enters its final stages, with players continuing to compete across the final events of the calendar, where the decision brings Gauff time to take a break from competition before returning to the tour later in the season.

The Wuhan Open is schedule to take place next week, with Gauff’s withdrawal leaving the tournament without its reigning champion.

Main Photo Credit: REUTERS/Brendan Mcdermid