Coco Gauff defeated Sun Xinran in the third spherical of the 2026 China Open.
During the first set, Gauff called for a video review after Xinran hit a winner, arguing that the flashing LED screens at the facet of the court had distracted her. The umpire instructed Gauff and Xinran to replay the level. Gauff won the replayed level and won the match 7-5, 6-1.
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16-year-old Xinran was visibly upset after the incident and never recovered, and lost her first WTA Tour main-draw match (now 2-1). Gauff was closely criticised and obtained unacceptable social media abuse.
Former world quantity one Victoria Azarenka has now come to Gauff’s defence, delivering her verdict on the video replay drama at the China Open.
Victoria Azarenka would not think it’s honest to ‘assign unhealthy intentions’ to anyone after Coco Gauff incident
Belarusian tennis legend Azarenka has spent time away from the public eye, but stepped back into the limelight to share her ideas on the controversy in Beijing.
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The two-time Grand Slam champion described video replays as a ‘very new addition to tennis’ and defined that confusion will stay until the guidelines and procedures are more clearly outlined.
She also commented on the timing of Gauff’s call for a review, doing so just before Xinran put away the forehand winner. Azarenka argued that it was the ‘umpire’s accountability’ and that gamers, like Gauff, deserve more grace.
Finally, Azarenka said it would be unfair to ‘assign unhealthy intentions’ to anyone after the incident, having seen Gauff obtain a wave of online abuse.
Azarenka clearly would not believe that Gauff deserved the criticism she obtained, and she’s in all probability proper. The American pretty requested a video review and was granted one. If you have a drawback with the guidelines, call for a rule change. As the saying goes, do not hate the participant, hate the sport…
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Who will Coco Gauff play next at the China Open?
After her controversial third-round win, Gauff will return to motion on Wednesday, October 7, to play Belgium’s Elise Mertens. The thirteenth seed defeated Katie Volynets and Jelena Ostapenko in three units to attain the last 16.
Coco Gauff’s route to the China Open title
|
Round |
Highest-ranked potential opponent |
Potential seeded opponents |
|
First spherical (Bye) |
– |
– |
|
Second spherical |
Camila Osorio (66) |
– |
|
Third spherical |
Sun Xinran (582) |
– |
|
Fourth spherical |
Elise Mertens (19) |
[13] Elise Mertens |
|
Quarter-final |
Iga Swiatek (9) |
[8] Iga Swiatek, [10] Iva Jovic |
|
Semi-final |
Elina Svitolina (7) |
[6] Elina Svitolina, [21] Ann Li |
|
Final |
Mirra Andreeva (5) |
[4] Mirra Andreeva, [5] Linda Noskova, [7] Karolina Muchova, [12] Naomi Osaka, [19] Ekaterina Alexandrova, [26] Nikola Bartunkova |
Coco Gauff’s route to the China Open title
Gauff and Mertens have met 5 instances, and the American leads their head-to-head 5-0. She will certainly fancy her possibilities of reaching the quarter-finals, where she could play Iga Swiatek or Iva Jovic.
She is 5-11 against Swiatek, but won their earlier 4 conferences and has never lost to Jovic, defeating her countrywoman in Rome and New York this yr.
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Then, in the semi-finals and last, Gauff will keep away from the prime seeds, Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka, after both gamers suffered early exits at the 2026 China Open.
Top seeds remaining in Beijing
-
[19] Ekaterina Alexandrova
Instead, she is most possible to meet Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina in the semis and Russia’s Mirra Andreeva in the last. Gauff is 2-4 against Svitolina, but leads Andreeva 6-0 in their head-to-head.
Only time will inform if Gauff can go all the method and claim the China Open title, but you actually won’t need to miss any of the motion…
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