Coco Gauff’s China Open campaign came to an end on Wednesday after the American fourth seed suffered a 6-3, 6-3 defeat to Elise Mertens. Gauff admitted she had “no energy” during the match and had just a few days ago received racist abuse on social media after a controversial incident in her previous round match.
This defeat was especially significant as Gauff had won all five of her previous meetings with Mertens. But the American struggled to find her rhythm in Beijing and was unable to prevent the Belgian from winning one of the biggest wins of her recent China Open campaign.
Gauff’s difficult week began during her match against Chinese player Sun Xinran on Monday. During a rally late in the opening set, electronic advertising boards around the court flickered. Gauff stopped the point, and the chair umpire ordered a replay.
The incident drew a lot of attention on the Internet. Gauff, who is Black, later addressed criticism of her decision on X and said she had received what she described as an “insane” amount of racist comments and direct messages. She denied that she had acted improperly during the match.
The social media abuse added another layer to an already demanding tournament for Gauff. Two days later, she appeared to struggle physically and mentally during her meeting with Mertens.
Gauff was broken four times against the Belgian and could not establish sustained control from the baseline. She made 34 unforced errors compared with Mertens’ 11 and had eight double faults compared to Mertens’ two.
Four of Gauff’s double faults occurred in the last game of the first set, and Mertens took the opening set 6-3. The Belgian continued to pressure in the second set and moved into a 4-1 lead.
At that moment, Gauff told her team that she had “no energy” and felt as if she might pass out. Mertens noticed the American’s drop in energy and said she tried to hold the pressure but was aware Gauff could fight back.
Mertens finished with 6-3, 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals of a WTA 1000 tournament for the first time in five years. The victory also improved her top-10 record to 3-3 in 2026.
The Belgian has already had several great wins this season. She beat the Italian Open defending champion Jasmine Paolini and also beat world No. 1 Elena Rybakina in the third round at Wimbledon where Mertens went on to win the quarterfinals.
Mertens said the victory was especially significant because her coach and boyfriend was celebrating his birthday the next day. She dedicated the win to him and the work they have put into her career.
Gauff’s exit from Beijing was followed by another big event. The Wuhan Open announced that the American had withdrawn from the upcoming tournament where she was the defending champion. Gauff said that after a long year, her body needed time to rest and recover.
The withdrawal adds to the physical concerns she raised during the China Open. Gauff has been through a grueling season on the WTA Tour, and her decision to step away from Wuhan allows her to recover before returning to competition.
Despite all the disappointment, Gauff is going to be representing the United States in the Billie Jean King Cup playoff against Hungary in her hometown of Delray Beach, Florida on November 21 and 22. The United States Tennis Association announced her participation today.
In the other section of the China Open, Iga Swiatek advanced after defeating 18-year-old American Iva Jovic 6-1, 6-3. Swiatek broke Jovic’s serve twice in the final four games to win.
Swiatek is also a Grand Slam champion and will meet Mertens in the second round. The match-up gives Mertens a chance to test herself against one of the best players on the WTA Tour after her victory against Gauff.
Gauff’s exit in the China Open ends a rough season for her. Her loss to Mertens followed an emotionally draining time away from the court and anxiety over her fitness levels during the match. With the American coming home from Wuhan, it gives her time for rest and recovery before she gets back to her work.
