Overview
- Gauff won 7-5, 6-1 over 16-year-old Sun Xinran in Beijing after a chair umpire ordered a video review and a replayed point when advertising LED panels flickered during a rally.
- Gauff explained she raised her hand because she saw the side panels flicker twice, said she followed WTA rules that allow stopping play and requesting reviews, and apologised to Sun who she said understood.
- Hours after the match on Monday, Gauff reported an "insane" volume of racist comments and direct messages on X and other platforms and publicly condemned the abuse.
- Coverage notes the incident echoes an earlier LED-panel replay at the tournament and spotlights debate about how hindrance reviews are timed and applied during points.
- The episode puts pressure on tournament organisers, officials and the WTA’s AI monitoring tools to clarify review procedures and step up moderation so players are not subject to rapid, targeted online harassment.