In the high-pressure world of professional tennis, where every serve and swing is scrutinized, Coco Gauff has emerged not only as a champion on the court but also as a powerful voice off it. Fresh off her triumphant 2025 French Open victory, the 21-year-old World No. 2 has opened up about a darker side of her journey: the relentless wave of online abuse targeting her and her boyfriend, Jalen Sera. In a heartfelt press conference before the Berlin Open, Gauff joined fellow American stars Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys in exposing the toxic underbelly of social media, revealing the mental toll of death threats, racist comments, and harassment that have become all too common in their sport.
Gauff’s candid remarks painted a grim picture of the challenges athletes face in the digital age. “It’s the worst you can get. Death threats, to your family, to yourself,” she said, her voice steady but heavy with frustration. “I’ve had people DM my boyfriend and friends about it. Racist comments, like all you can imagine. Nudity, things like that. It’s a gross kind of thing that we have going on in tennis.” Her words echoed those of Pegula, who recently faced a barrage of vile messages after her French Open quarterfinal loss to Loïs Boisson, and Keys, who has also spoken out about the emotional weight of online hate. The trio’s collective outcry underscores a growing epidemic in tennis, where social media platforms have become battlegrounds for athletes’ mental resilience.
The abuse Gauff described is not limited to her alone. Pegula, ranked No. 3, called for stronger action from social media companies and the gambling industry, which a recent WTA and ITF report linked to 40% of the abuse directed at players. “It’s not enough on its own,” Pegula said, emphasizing the need to “tackle the problem at its source.” Gauff agreed, pointing out the shortcomings of current safeguards. “I know the WTA is doing what they can to make us feel protected, but I definitely think that a lot of these platforms can step in as well,” she stated. She singled out Instagram as particularly lax, noting, “I see basically everything on there. I try to do it on my own account, to filter certain words, but people get creative and spell it out in different ways.” In contrast, she praised TikTok for its more effective comment filtering, suggesting other platforms could follow suit.
Gauff’s personal life has also been dragged into the fray. Her relationship with Jalen Sera, a musician and aspiring actor from Atlanta, became public in June 2025 when she “hard-launched” their two-year romance during a BOSE promotional video. Sera, who was once a fourth-grade student of Gauff’s mother, Candi, has been a steadfast supporter, celebrating her French Open win with heartfelt social media posts. Yet, the couple has faced vicious attacks, with trolls targeting Sera directly. Despite this, Gauff remains resolute, drawing strength from her loved ones and her own mental fortitude. “It’s something that we have to keep bringing awareness to,” she said, advocating for broader protections not just for tennis players but for all public figures facing similar harassment.
The timing of Gauff’s revelations adds a layer of complexity to her Berlin Open campaign, where she suffered a shock first-round loss to Wang Xinyu. The defeat, a stark contrast to her dominant clay-court season, did little to dim her resolve. Gauff, Pegula, and Keys—part of a resurgent American women’s tennis scene that saw five players in the WTA top 13 in June 2025—are united in their push for change. Their openness has sparked a broader conversation about the mental health challenges athletes face and the responsibility of social media giants to act. As Gauff prepares for Wimbledon, her fight extends beyond the court, proving she’s not just a champion but a warrior for a safer, more respectful digital world.
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