Gauff describes 'draining' days after online racist abuse

Coco Gauff said she went through a "draining" few days after being targeted with racist abuse online, which she received following her fourth-round exit from the China Open.

The American player, one of the leading figures in women's tennis, said the messages added an extra layer of difficulty to a result that was already disappointing on its own terms. She did not go into detail about the specific platforms or individuals involved, but described the emotional toll of dealing with the abuse in the days that followed her defeat.

Online abuse directed at athletes, particularly after high-profile losses, has become a recurring issue across professional sports. Players, governing bodies and social media companies have faced repeated calls to do more to identify and act against users who send racist or threatening messages.

Gauff's comments add her voice to a number of other prominent athletes who have spoken out in recent years about the abuse they receive online, often within minutes of a match ending. Tennis's governing bodies have previously said they work with social media platforms and law enforcement in serious cases, though players frequently note that the volume of abuse makes consistent enforcement difficult.

Gauff is continuing her season following the China Open exit, with her team and tour officials yet to comment further on the specific incident.