"I'm going through a lot" - Coco Gauff devastated as TikTok's US ban impacts her even at Australian Open

Coco Gauff has reached the quarterfinals of the 2025 Australian Open with an impressive comeback win over Belinda Bencic. However, the American's immediate post-match thoughts were consumed by TikTok being banned in the US.

Gauff and Bencic's highly anticipated fourth-round clash at the Australian Open began on a riveting note, with the Swiss clinching the opening set 7-5. However, the World No. 3 battled back strongly to claim a 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 victory after a two-hour and 26-minute contest, advancing to the quarterfinals in Melbourne for the second year in a row.

With the TikTok ban going into effect in the USA, Coco Gauff used her camera message to pay tribute to the social media platform, drawing a broken heart and writing:

"RIP TikTok USA."

The former US Open champion later shared the message on Instagram, admitting that she was going through an emotional upheaval due to the ban.

"I'm going through a lot rn 😞," Gauff posted on her Instagram story.

Gauff also expressed devastation over her access to TikTok being blocked even in Australia, mournfully reflecting on how long she had been using the social media platform.

"Idk why I thought since I am in Australia this wouldn't apply to me. 😢 been on this app since musically smh," she wrote.

@cocogauff's Instagram stories

Coco Gauff's feelings come as no surprise, as the 20-year-old recently expressed her hope that the ban wouldn't go through. She pointed out that TikTok was a "great thing for a lot of small businesses in our country and a lot of creators make money on it."

Coco Gauff to lock horns with Paula Badosa in Australian Open QF

Coco Gauff and Paula Badosa - Source: Getty

Following her win over Belinda Bencic, Coco Gauff will battle it out against Paula Badosa in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Australian Open. The Spaniard triumphed over Olga Danilovic 6-1, 7-6(2) to book her place against the third seed.

The duo stand level at 3-3 in their head-to-head record, with Gauff claiming a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory in their most recent encounter in the semifinals of the 2024 China Open.

Speaking in her on-court interview, the American acknowledged Badosa as a formidable opponent and disclosed that she was expecting a tough battle for a place in the semifinals.

"Every time I play Paula, it's a tough matchup. She's playing some great tennis. Last time we played, I think it went three sets, I'm not sure. But we played end of last year, so I expect this to be another tough match," Gauff said.

If Coco Gauff emerges victorious against Paula Badosa, she could set up a rematch of last year's Australian Open semifinal with top seed and two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, provided the Belarusian defeats Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the quarterfinals.