Coco Gauff, the world number two tennis player, paid tribute to the popular social media app TikTok by writing “RIP TikTok USA” on a camera lens following her victory in the Australian Open quarterfinals. The gesture comes as TikTok is set to be discontinued in the United States, affecting around 170 million American users. The app was removed from Apple and Google app stores ahead of a law that mandates its shutdown, effective Sunday.
In a post-match news conference, Gauff, who has over 750,000 TikTok followers, expressed mixed feelings about the app’s discontinuation. While she acknowledged that the absence of TikTok may lead her to focus on other interests, she also lamented the loss of what she described as an escape, noting that she often used the platform to unwind before matches.
“I honestly thought I’d be able to get away with it because I was in Australia,” Gauff remarked, reflecting on her initial hope to access the app while overseas. “Hopefully it comes back. It’s really sad. I love TikTok. It’s like an escape.”
Other athletes, including defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, also voiced their disappointment over the app’s demise. Sabalenka, who has over 500,000 followers, recreated one of her viral dance videos with fans after her first-round victory and hopes for a swift resolution to the situation.
On the political side, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has indicated that he may grant TikTok a 90-day reprieve from the ban once he takes office, raising hopes among users like Gauff and Sabalenka that the platform could make a comeback.
This situation underscores the powerful impact of social media on both personal lives and professional experiences for athletes, who often rely on platforms like TikTok not just for entertainment, but also for engagement with their fans and the broader community.
In a hopeful twist, Gauff mentioned that this might be an opportunity to enhance her productivity, suggesting that the discontinuation could lead to personal growth and exploration of new interests.
Overall, the ongoing situation with TikTok remains uncertain, but the sentiments expressed by Gauff and her peers reflect a shared hope that the beloved app will soon return to its millions of American users.