Gauff stopped a rally after electronic advertising boards lining the court flickered during a point late in the first set of her 7-5, 6-1 third-round victory over Xinran, a 16-year-old who recently won the U.S.Open junior title.Sun appeared about to win the point when Gauff stopped playing, but the chair umpire then ordered the point to be replayed.THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE.
DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!Coco Gauff of the United States celebrates after defeating Xinran Sun of China in a Women's Singles Round of 32 match on day six of the China Open at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, China, on Oct.5, 2026.
(Fred Lee/Getty Images)Gauff explained what occurred in the moment, but not before replying to a post on X calling her a racial slur."hey everyone, you can dislike me or disagree about what happened without being racist.the amount of racist comments/dms I’ve received in the last few hours is insane," Gauff said, adding that she is "not a cheater or a thief."Gauff has called out racism in the past, saying she received similar comments from gamblers earlier this year.Gauff then said that she saw a light "flicker" early on in the point "but was not sure if that is what I actually saw.""We are told before the matches we are allowed to continue to finish play so KEEP IT (sic) MIND i am thinking about all of this while i’m playing the point.
anything can be challenged after the point is over...If I would’ve lost the point my opponent is also free to do the same thing and ask for a replay and she would’ve have been completely in her right to do so," Gauff explained.Gauff said she saw the light flicker again and raised her hands.PATRICK MCENROE ON U.S.
OPEN WEED SMELL, TRANS ATHLETES, FOREIGN RECRUITS RESHAPING COLLEGE TENNISCoco Gauff of the United States reacts against Xinran Sun of China in the women's singles third round match at the China Open in Beijing on Oct.5, 2026.
(Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)"It was an un...