MELBOURNE – The day came when Coco Gauff considered becoming a better reader: “I’ll be forced to read more books! To be a more productive human being.” Her reflection—shared with laughter—this Sunday in Melbourne didn’t stem from a sudden revelation or a personal desire to dive into literature. Instead, it was prompted by the ban imposed on the social media platform TikTok in the United States over the weekend.
The absence of likes, endless video loops, and interactions put the 20-year-old American tennis star in a bind. Before stepping onto the court to play her fourth-round match at the Australian Open against Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic, Gauff learned of the self-imposed shutdown by the Chinese-owned app following pressure from Joe Biden’s administration.
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The response from the 2023 US Open champion was almost immediate, reflecting the widespread anxiety among thousands of American teenagers.
“RIP TikTok USA,” Coco Gauff wrote on the TV camera after securing her spot among the last eight in Melbourne for the second consecutive year.
“I couldn’t log in after my match. Honestly, I thought I’d still be able to since I’m in Australia, but maybe it has something to do with my (U.S.) number. I’ll have to look into it. I hope I can get back on; it’s really sad because I’ve been on the app since it was called Musical.ly. I love TikTok, it’s an escape,” explained the world number three.
Gauff is one of the most active tennis players on the Chinese social media platform, with nearly 760,000 followers and more than 22 million likes on her videos, where she often shares glimpses of her life on and off the tour.
“Maybe it’s a blessing in disguise. Everything happens for a reason. I have a feeling it will return somehow,” she said just hours before the story took a twist, as Donald Trump confirmed that the app would once again be available in the United States.

The controversy surrounding TikTok stems from a law enacted during the recently concluded Joe Biden administration, which requires the app to be sold to U.S. buyers in order to protect the national security of its citizens. The legislation alleges ties to and access to user information by the Chinese government.
After 24 hours of being blocked, President Donald Trump announced an extension of the law, allowing the app to continue negotiating a solution with the U.S. government, where it boasts more than 170 million users.
Among them is @cocogauff, who will need to set her screen aside this Tuesday to face Spain’s Paula Badosa (world No. 12) for a spot in the Australian Open semifinals.
There will be time to read books later.