Coco Gauff laments TikTok shutdown, reaches Australian Open quarterfinals

Shortly after the popular app, which was used by 170 million Americans, stopped working in the US, Coco Gauff wrote “RIP TikTok USA” and drew a broken heart on a camera lens to depict her in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open.

Before a law that goes into effect on Sunday, which requires the shutdown of the social media platform, TikTok disappeared from the Apple and Google app stores.

The former US Open champion claimed at a press conference that the app, which is inaccessible on her phone in Melbourne, would likely allow her to devote more time to other pursuits.

“I honestly thought I’d be able to get away with it because I was in Australia”, said Gauff, who beat Belinda Bencic 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 on Sunday to advance. “I guess it’s something to do with my number. I don’t know. I have to do some research.

” Hopefully it comes back. It’s really sad. I love TikTok. It’s like an escape. I honestly do that before matches.

“I guess it’ll force me to read books more, be more of a productive human probably. Maybe it’s a blessing in disguise”.

After taking office on Monday, US President-elect Donald Trump declared that he would “most likely” grant TikTok a 90-day reprieve from the ban, and Gauff said she had a feeling it would someday return.

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, who lives in Miami and is a huge TikTok fan, said she too was hoping for a quick resolution.

After winning in the first round of TikTok last week, the Belarusian recreated one of her viral dance videos with fans on Rod Laver Arena. She now has more than 500,000 followers on TikTok.

“This isn’t something we can control and I hope they’re going to figure it out, because I love TikTok”, she said.