In today’s age of competitive sports, the players are followed very closely by the fans. As a result, even the most minute of the errors are deeply scrutinized. Additionally, with the growing influence of social media, they soon become a talking point on platforms like X and Instagram. Ask Coco Gauff, who has battled such issues in the past. Despite being a Grand Slam champion at just 20, the American sensation’s performances have come under the scanner this year. However, Gauff has learned to deal with the online hatred.

The former US Open champion won the WTA Finals title last week. She defeated Qinwen Zheng in the summit clash to end her season on a high. Subsequently, she appeared on the WTA Insider Podcast during which she opened up about dealing with criticism on social media.

“I remember after my loss in Cincinnati, they have the TV on Tennis Channel in the locker room,” Gauff said. “I couldn’t hear what what they were saying but the headline was like ‘Gauff’s Slump Summer’ or something like that. I looked at that and I was just like, ‘Dang, I have to turn it around somehow.’ And then I lost a pretty tough match against Emma [Navarro] at US Open. A lot of people were critiquing my season, you know, ‘Flop era.’ I know all the Twitter terms. I think for me it was just motivation. I’m the author of my own story, and I’m not going to let anybody write me off.” Then came a combination that helps her overcome this.

When asked how she processes the negative comments, Gauff revealed, “I don’t really talk to my team or anybody. Sometimes my boyfriend, but not to a deep extent. I do journal a lot, and I think it’s just a lot of self-reflection and self awareness. I do have a therapist. I haven’t gone in a while, but I do that. I try to go once every two weeks, schedule permitting. I think a combination of her, myself and obviously my parents. My dad is pretty petty like me. I’m pretty sure the first thing he’s going to say when I call him is something about what people were saying about me.”

Gauff’s boyfriend, Jalen Sera, has always stood beside Gauff through thick and thin. In May this year, Gauff revealed to TIME that she has been in a relationship for almost a year, her first serious adult romance. “This is my first real relationship,” she said. “To just have someone to talk to who is not involved in tennis at all gives me a fresh perspective.”

Interestingly, the American sensation once revealed that her boyfriend helped her win the US Open, saying, “I just called my boyfriend, and I told him let’s talk until it’s time to go to sleep so we spoke until 1:00 a.m. and then I went to sleep.”

Amid growing criticism of players on social media, Gauff hasn’t held back in slamming the haters. Earlier this year, she discussed this subject while throwing light on the kind of hatred received from fans.

Coco Gauff reveals a dark truth of the digital age

After reaching the highs in the 2023 season, Gauff failed to replicate her performances this year and had early exits from the tournaments. As a result, her performance came under the scanner and she started receiving inappropriate messages on social media. Expressive grave concern on this subject, the American sensation gave a glimpse of the hatred received online.

She said, “I will literally spend 30 minutes blocking all the people. I just thought at first, like I was being targeted. Then I realized everybody was getting it… It’s tough because you hear a lot of nasty things, and people, like, talk about your appearance, your family’s appearance, and all these things. If you are already struggling with your own mental issues and on top of that you have people digging deeper, it is tough.”

However, it looks like the WTA Finals title came just at the right time for Gauff. Despite the season not going according to her plans, Gauff will be relieved to cap off her season by winning the trophy in Riyadh.