Coco Gauff announced her withdrawal from the Wuhan Open after suffering a defeat to Elise Mertens in the fourth round of the China Open. Gauff lost the match 6-3, 6-3, marking her first loss to Mertens in six encounters. The defeat came shortly after Gauff experienced significant online racist abuse, which she described as "insane," following a controversial moment in her earlier match against Sun Xinran.
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In a post-match statement, Gauff expressed disappointment over her decision to withdraw, especially as the defending champion at the Wuhan Open. She cited the need for rest and recovery after a physically taxing year: "I always love playing there. After a long year, my body needs some time to rest and recover. I look forward to returning next year."
Following her loss, Gauff commented on her lack of energy on the court, stating that she felt drained throughout the match. The American star has been vocal about the impact of online harassment on her performance and well-being. Gauff was previously unbeaten against Mertens, who will now face Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals.