Coco Gauff Advances After Controversial Video Review Incident
Coco Gauff defeated Sun Xinran at the 2026 China Open following a video review for an LED screen distraction, sparking debate and online abuse defended by Victoria Azarenka.
Coco Gauff defeated Sun Xinran in the third round of the 2026 China Open after a controversial video review incident. Gauff won the match 7-5, 6-1 after the umpire ordered a point to be replayed due to a distraction from flashing LED screens.
During a key rally at 4-5 in the first set, Gauff raised her hand to stop play. She argued that flickering LED advertising screens at the side of the court had distracted her just as Sun Xinran hit a forehand winner. The chair umpire reviewed the video and granted a hindrance call, instructing the players to replay the point. Gauff won the replayed point, took the set, and controlled the match thereafter. Sun Xinran, visibly upset after the incident, never recovered.
Reaction from tennis legends
Victoria Azarenka defended Coco Gauff's actions. The Belarusian tennis legend and former world number one argued the responsibility lay with the umpire, not the player. Azarenka described video replays as a "very new addition to tennis" and confusion will remain until the rules and procedures are more clearly defined.
She noted the call came just before Sun put away the winner. Azarenka said players deserve grace in stressful, unclear moments. "I don’t think that makes it fair to ‘assign bad intentions’ to anyone after the incident," she stated. Azarenka also revealed she had seen Gauff receive a wave of online abuse following the match.
Other tennis figures publicly supported Gauff. Martina Navratilova urged Gauff to ignore critics, calling her a great person and a fabulous player. Boris Becker sent a message of love and support, telling Gauff to keep her head held high. Gauff herself posted on social media, addressing the racist messages she received and firmly denying she was a cheater.
Impact on players and tournament context
The incident overshadowed a significant milestone for Sun Xinran. The 16-year-old Chinese wildcard was playing her first WTA Tour main-draw match. She recently won the US Open junior title. Despite the loss, Gauff praised her opponent's maturity in a post-match press conference.
Gauff called Sun an incredible player and highlighted her composure. I think she’s a little bit more mature than I was at 16, Gauff said. She predicted this was the first of many matches they would play against each other at this level.
Gauff’s path forward at the China Open
Ranked No. 4 in the world, Gauff now moves into the round of 16. Her next opponent is the 13th seed, Elise Mertens of Belgium. The two have met five times before, with Gauff holding a perfect record.
| Opponent | Round | Gauff's Head-to-Head Record |
|---|---|---|
| Elise Mertens | Round of 16 | Leads 5-0 |
| Iga Swiatek or Iva Jovic | Potential Quarter-final | 5-11 vs Swiatek; Undefeated vs Jovic |
| Elina Svitolina | Potential Semi-final | Trails 2-4 |
| Mirra Andreeva | Potential Final | Leads 6-0 |
Mertens reached this stage with three-set wins over Katie Volynets and Jelena Ostapenko. Should Gauff advance, she could face world number one Iga Swiatek or Iva Jovic in the quarter-finals. Gauff has won her last four meetings with Swiatek but has never lost to Jovic, defeating her in Rome and New York earlier in 2026. The draw means Gauff would avoid top seeds Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka until a potential final.
Gauff will return to action on Wednesday, October 7, to play Belgium’s Elise Mertens.
