Archive · 7 Oct 2026
Gauff Exits Beijing, Withdraws From Wuhan After Draining Days
Coco Gauff lost her tennis match in Beijing to Elise Mertens.
She said she had been feeling drained.
After an earlier match, people sent her racist abuse online.
The tennis organization called the abuse unacceptable and offered support.
Gauff then pulled out of the Wuhan tournament, where she was the defending champion.
She said she needed time to rest after a long year of tennis.
Coco Gauff lost 6-3, 6-3 to Elise Mertens in the China Open last 16.
Gauff made 34 unforced errors, including eight double faults, in the 78-minute match.
She described the preceding days as draining after receiving racial abuse online following her match against Sun Xinran.
The WTA condemned the abuse and said it was in contact with Gauff to offer support.
Gauff withdrew from the Wuhan Open, saying her body needed time to rest and recover after a long year.
- Who
- Coco Gauff, Elise Mertens, and the WTA.
- What
- Gauff lost to Mertens in Beijing and withdrew from the Wuhan Open.
- When
- Wednesday; the Wuhan Open is scheduled for October 12-18.
- Where
- The China Open in Beijing and the Wuhan Open in Wuhan, China.
- Why
- Gauff cited fatigue and said her body needed rest and recovery after a long year; she also described recent days as draining after online racial abuse.
- Beijing result
- Elise Mertens defeated Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-3 in the China Open last 16.
- Match duration
- 78 minutes.
- Gauff's errors
- 34 unforced errors, including eight double faults.
- Earlier match
- Gauff beat Sun Xinran 7-5, 6-1 in the second round.
- Online abuse
- Gauff said she received racial abuse online after the match against Sun; the WTA condemned it.
- Wuhan withdrawal
- Gauff withdrew from the Wuhan Open, where she was defending champion, citing fatigue.
- Tournament dates
- The Wuhan Open runs from October 12 to October 18.