Boris Becker has publicly backed Coco Gauff after the American faced criticism and racist abuse following her controversial China Open match against Xinran Sun.
Gauff defeated the 16-year-old Chinese player 7-5, 6-1 in Beijing, but the match was overshadowed by an incident late in the opening set. With Sun leading 5-4 and 15-15 on Gauff's serve, the American asked for a point to be replayed after noticing the LED advertising boards flickering during the rally.
The chair umpire reviewed the situation and ruled in Gauff's favor, allowing the point to be replayed. Gauff won the point and went on to hold serve before taking the opening set, while Sun became visibly emotional before struggling in the second.
The decision led to criticism of Gauff online, with the American later saying she had also received a significant amount of racist abuse. Becker has now stepped in with a message of support for the four-time Grand Slam finalist.
“You’re special and one of a kind”
Becker did not address the technical details of the incident in his message. Instead, the six-time Grand Slam champion focused on Gauff herself and urged her to ignore the criticism directed towards her.
“Coco! You are a proud black woman and we love you! Don’t care or look 👀 at any of the comments from the ignorant stupid people,” Becker wrote on X. “You’re special and one of a kind! Keep walking straight with your head held up high! Love from the Becker family!”
Becker's message came after Gauff publicly addressed the reaction to the incident, making a distinction between legitimate disagreement over the decision and the abuse she received afterwards.
“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. Lastly, I’m not a cheater or a thief,” Gauff wrote.
Coco ! You are a proud black woman and we love you ! Don’t care or look 👀 at any of the comments from the ignorant stupid people .., You’re special and one of a kind ! Keep walking straight with your head held up high ! Love from the Becker family!
— Boris Becker (@TheBorisBecker) October 5, 2026
Gauff moves on from controversial Beijing incident
The controversy came during a match Gauff eventually won comfortably, although the first set became significantly more complicated after the replayed point. Sun had been competing in front of her home crowd and was visibly affected by the decision before Gauff pulled away in the second set.
Gauff has maintained that she was following the procedures given to players, while the chair umpire ultimately made the decision to replay the point. The American also apologized to Sun after the match. “It was an unfortunate situation but it is out of my control,” Gauff said afterwards.
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The incident has nevertheless continued to generate discussion away from the court, particularly after Gauff's comments about the racist messages she received.
Becker's intervention adds his voice to those supporting Gauff as she attempts to put the controversy behind her and continue her China Open campaign. For the former world No. 1, the priority was not debating the replay itself, but making clear that the abuse directed at Gauff was unacceptable.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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