Victoria Azarenka Weighs in on Controversy Surrounding Coco Gauff’s China Open Match

Coco Gauff advanced past Sun Xinran in the third round of the 2026 China Open after a disputed video review during the first set. Gauff requested a review claiming the LED screens distracted her during Xinran’s winning shot. The umpire ordered the point to be replayed, which Gauff won, taking the match 7-5, 6-1.

Xinran, just 16 years old, appeared upset by the decision and struggled to recover, dropping her first WTA main-draw match. Following the incident, Gauff faced intense criticism and harsh social media backlash.

Victoria Azarenka Defends Gauff Amid Online Abuse

Former world number one Victoria Azarenka stepped out of her public hiatus to comment on the situation. The Belarusian two-time Grand Slam champion pointed out that video replay is still a new feature in tennis, causing some confusion until rules become clearer.

Azarenka noted the timing of Gauff’s call—right before Xinran’s forehand winner—and said it was ultimately up to the umpire to manage such situations. She emphasized players deserve understanding rather than judgment for using available rules.

“I don’t think it’s fair to assign bad intentions to anyone,” Azarenka said, referring to the wave of abuse directed at Gauff online.

She believes Gauff acted within the rules by requesting the review and suggested those unhappy with such rules should push for changes instead of targeting players.

Upcoming Matches and Gauff’s Path in the China Open

Gauff will next face Belgium’s Elise Mertens on October 7 after the 13th seed overcame Katie Volynets and Jelena Ostapenko in three-set matches.

Coco Gauff’s Road to the Title

• First round (Bye): –
• Second round: Camila Osorio (66)
• Third round: Sun Xinran (582)
• Fourth round: Elise Mertens (19)
• Quarter-final: Iga Swiatek (9)
• Semi-final: Elina Svitolina (7)
• Final: Mirra Andreeva (5)

Gauff holds a perfect 5-0 record against Mertens and will likely aim to reach the quarter-finals where she could meet Iga Swiatek or Iva Jovic. Although Gauff trails 5-11 against Swiatek overall, she has won their last four encounters and remains undefeated versus Jovic.

The top seeds Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka have both exited early, meaning Gauff may avoid facing them. Instead, a semi-final clash with Svitolina and a final showdown with Andreeva are probable. Gauff is 2-4 against Svitolina but leads Andreeva 6-0.

Remaining Top Seeds at the China Open

• 3: Coco Gauff
• 4: Mirra Andreeva
• 6: Elina Svitolina
• 7: Karolina Muchova
• 8: Iga Swiatek
• 10: Iva Jovic
• 13: Elise Mertens
• 19: Ekaterina Alexandrova
• 21: Ann Li
• 26: Nikola Bartunkova

Whether Gauff can capture the China Open title remains to be seen, but the upcoming rounds promise exciting tennis ahead.