Coco Gauff’s Emotional Reaction to TikTok Ban After Quarterfinal Victory

American tennis player Coco Gauff recently advanced to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. However, her triumph was overshadowed by the U.S. government’s ban on the social media platform TikTok. Following her match, in which she defeated Belinda Bencic 5-7, 6-2, 6-1, Gauff expressed her sorrow by writing “RIP TikTok USA” on a camera lens.

TikTok’s Shutdown and Government Response

TikTok, a widely used app with over 750,000 of Gauff’s followers, ceased operations for U.S. users as part of ongoing governmental efforts to address national security concerns regarding the app, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance. In a statement posted on Truth Social, President-elect Donald Trump announced plans to issue an executive order that would facilitate ByteDance in finding a U.S.-approved buyer for the platform.

Gauff’s Personal Reflection

In the post-match press conference, Gauff conveyed her disappointment about the ban. “It’s really sad. I’ve been on the app since it was called Musical.ly,” she shared, adding, “I love TikTok. It’s like an escape. I honestly do that before matches. I guess it will force me to read books more, be more of a productive human, probably. Maybe it’s a blessing in disguise.”

Legal Developments

In a decisive legal action, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld legislation requiring ByteDance to either sell TikTok or prepare for its shutdown in the country. The ruling was based on concerns about the vast amounts of user data the app collects, raising fears about potential access by the Chinese government.

Future of TikTok in the U.S.

TikTok announced it is currently working to restore its services in the United States, aligning its efforts with President Trump’s upcoming inauguration, which is set for the Monday following the recent legal decisions.