“Somebody commented on my TikTok and they were like: ‘You’ve won in life, literally and figuratively, and there’s no point in piling pressure on yourself on a victory lap,'” revealed Coco Gauff ahead of US Open last year. Admitting that these comments changed her perspective, the 2023 US Open winner pledged, “I do it again this year or not, I am going to do it again, whether it’s 2024 or not – I will do it again.” Well, she did just that: winning China Open and year-end WTA Finals. However, TikTok, a crucial platform for Coco’s entertainment and motivation, may soon be banned in the U.S. How does this news impact her?

Right now, Gauff is feeling great after advancing to the third round of the 2025 Australian Open, thanks to her 6-3, 7-5 victory over Jodie Burrage at Rod Laver Arena. Although she stumbled a bit in the second set, where she dropped four games in a row, she managed to regain her focus just in time. After Burrage served for the set at 5-3, Coco capitalized on her opponent’s mistakes and turned the match around to seal the win.

During the post-match press conference, Gauff was asked about the rumors of TikTok, which is available in more than 150 countries but not China, is owned by the Chinese internet company ByteDance, potentially being banned in the U.S. Finding it amusing, she said, “Yeah, I am following it. Yeah, I feel like this is the third or fourth time this has happened, so I’ve kind of like, this time just was like ‘whatever’. If I wake up and it doesn’t work, fine. I’m done wasting my time.”

With around 755.7K followers on TikTok, you might think she’d be concerned about its future. Yet, she seems unfazed and noted the rise of a Chinese App called “Red Note.” While acknowledging the fact that “people always gonna migrate to other app”, she expressed hope for its continuation: “I hope TikTok extends. It’s a great thing for a lot of small businesses in our country and creators to spread stories.”

As the Supreme Court prepares to rule on TikTok’s potential ban, citing national security concerns, Americans seeking alternatives are turning to Xiaohongshu, which translates to ‘little red book’ in Mandarin. Despite the name’s association with Mao Zedong’s ‘Little Red Book,’ the app, often referred to as ‘Red Note,’ has become the most downloaded free app on the U.S. Apple Store. This Chinese social media platform boasts over 300 million users, primarily in China, who share a diverse range of content, including short videos and text-based posts.

Nonetheless, Gauff remains optimistic: “Obviously, I don’t know all the security issues and things like that, but as a fan, I hope they are able to extend it.” On the other hand, when asked if there was anything specific she would miss from TikTok, she shared a funny moment: “There’s a lot of trends. There’s like this pig online, his name is Merlin. And he does, he knows how to like press buttons so he can talk so I think it’s pretty funny. It’s a pretty sassy pig, so I will miss Merlin the most(laughs).”

While Coco might miss watching Merlin, the pig, and all his antics that make her laugh, it remains uncertain if TikTok will actually be banned. She can find comfort in starting a new show—The Bachelor. This reality TV series never caught her interest before, but now she plans to tune in because her friend is a contestant.

Gauff to tune into ‘The Bachelor’ once the tournament ends

Coco Gauff is buzzing with excitement after learning that her friend Bailey Taylor Brown has joined the cast of The Bachelor. Bailey will be one of 25 women vying for the heart of former Bachelorette contestant Grant Ellis in season 29, which premieres on January 27. Gauff has already marked that date on her calendar!

Bailey, a social media manager, shared the news on Instagram, saying, “All for the love of the game see you Monday, January 27th at 8 pm …@bachelornation @bachelorabe.” The American tennis star couldn’t help but show her support, commenting with a red heart and rose emojis—a playful nod to the show’s iconic rose ceremony.

While Gauff has never watched The Bachelor before, she’s ready to tune in this time around. “I’m sat! never watched the show before but will be!!!!” she posted on her Instagram story. In a TikTok video from January 2023, she encouraged her fans to follow Bailey. She said, “If you guys don’t know who Bailey is, you should go follow her because she’s literally my Alix Earle. I love her content. She’s my friend’s big sister and I love her.” It’s clear that Gauff is all in when it comes to supporting her friend.

But before diving into reality TV, Gauff has some serious business to take care of at the Australian Open. As the third seed, she aims to clinch the title this year. She’s been on fire since teaming up with Matt Daly during the 2024 Asian swing. With her current momentum and determination, it looks like great things are on the horizon for Coco Gauff! What do you think?