Full Breakdown
UN Human Rights Office Condemns Racist Abuse of Coco Gauff
By Drooid · · How we work
Incident at the China Open Triggers Online Backlash
During her China Open match against China’s Sun Xinran, American tennis star Coco Gauff halted play after noticing a flickering advertising board. After a video review, officials ordered the point to be replayed; Gauff went on to win 7-5, 6-1. The decision sparked a surge of racist comments on social media, which Gauff described as “insane.” Two days later she lost to Elise Mertens in the round of 16, saying she felt drained and had “no energy.” Gauff, a two-time Grand Slam champion ranked No. 4 in the world, later posted, “You can dislike me or disagree about what happened without being racist.”
Official Statements & Calls for Solidarity
The United Nations Human Rights Office, led by High Commissioner Volker Türk, issued a post on Saturday denouncing the “appalling” racist messages targeting Gauff. It called on players, coaches, sports bodies, and fans to stand up for those facing such attacks and to push back against racism and sexism in sport.
Verbatim Quote
- “You can dislike me or disagree about what happened without being racist.” — Coco Gauff, two-time Grand Slam champion, ranked No. 4
Broader Context
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about online abuse in professional tennis, especially toward Black female athletes. The UN office’s condemnation adds an international human-rights dimension to the debate, urging the sporting community to adopt stronger measures against discriminatory harassment.