Coco Gauff reports racist abuse as China Open run ends against Mertens

Coco Gauff said she had endured a draining period after receiving racist abuse online before her China Open campaign ended with a fourth-round defeat by Elise Mertens on Wednesday. According to BBC Sport, the American lost 6-3 6-3 in Beijing after facing abusive comments and direct messages following an incident in her previous match against China's Sun Xinran.

Watch the highlights:

The dispute arose during Gauff's third-round victory on Monday over the 16-year-old Sun. Late in the opening set, Sun believed she had struck a winner, but Gauff put her hand up to stop play because a light was flickering in panels beside the court. A video review followed, a procedure players are permitted to request. The point was played again, Gauff won it, and she went on to win the match.

Gauff subsequently published a detailed statement setting out her account of the incident, then spoke out against the racist messages she received. Asked about the preceding 36 hours after her defeat by Mertens, the 22-year-old acknowledged the strain. She said her response was to switch off her phone and carry on, describing the period as "kind of draining".

The Women's Tennis Association said it was appalled by the abuse and had contacted Gauff to support her. BBC Sport reported that, in a statement supplied to AFP, the governing body also said it was pursuing action against the abusive content. The response addressed the online conduct directed at Gauff following the match incident.

On court, Gauff finished the Mertens match with 34 unforced errors and eight double faults. The 2024 Beijing champion said she had felt flat and had been unable to maintain her level throughout the contest, although there were periods when she felt it was there. Her defeat ended her bid for another title at the tournament.

Mertens advances to a quarter-final against Iga Swiatek. The former world number one and six-time major champion secured her place by defeating American teenager Iva Jovic 6-1 6-3.