Coco Gauff faced a defeat against Elise Mertens in the China Open quarterfinals, marking her first loss after winning their previous five encounters. Gauff received a barrage of racist comments on social media following a disputed point in a previous match against Sun Xinran where she stopped play due to flickering advertising boards.
Despite her efforts, Gauff succumbed to Mertens with a score of 6-3, 6-3, as she struggled with her serve, losing it four times during the match. Mertens, ranked 19th, celebrated her victory, reaching her first quarterfinal at a WTA 1000 event in five years.
Expressing her dismay at the racist remarks, Gauff defended her integrity, stating, “You can disagree with me without resorting to racism.” Meanwhile, Mertens credited her win to motivation, dedicating it to her coach and boyfriend on his upcoming birthday.
In other matches, Iga Swiatek defeated American player Iva Jovic 6-1, 6-3, advancing to face Mertens in the next round. Swiatek, a multiple Grand Slam champion, will look to continue her winning streak after struggling in some matches this year.
