Coco Gauff Reacts to TikTok Ban: 'It's Really Sad... It's Like an Escape'

Tennis star Coco Gauff called the federal ban of TikTok in the United States, which went into effect Sunday, "really sad" and expressed her hope the platform can resume service.

"I could not access it after my match. I honestly thought I would be able to get away with it because I was in Australia," she told reporters after her fourth-round victory over Belinda Bencic in the Australian Open. "Hopefully it comes back. ... It's really sad. I've been on the app since it was called Musical.ly. 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."

Gauff also wrote "RIP TikTok USA" on the camera lens as she was walking off the court following her match.

Starting Sunday, US-based users of TikTok were met with a message confirming the ban:

In an annoucement Sunday afternoon, TikTok said it's "in the process of restoring service" and thanked Donald Trump on the eve of him assuming the Oval Office for the second time:

During his first presidency, Trump signed an executive order in August 2020 that paved the way for TikTok to be banned within the United States, citing concerns over its data collection and links with the Chinese government. President Joe Biden signed a law in April that required the sale of TikTok in order for its service to continue in the U.S.

While the administration sought to effectively delay the ban in recent days, the Supreme Court upheld it. Trump said he's considering giving TikTok a 90-day extension once he assumes office again.

That will be welcome news for Gauff and others who have amassed sizable followings on platform. The 2023 U.S. Open champion has more than 750,000 followers.