Fresh off her triumphant maiden French Open title on June 7, 2025, Coco Gauff faced an unexpected off-court challenge when her X account, boasting nearly 400,000 followers, was compromised by hackers on June 11. The 21-year-old American tennis sensation, who defeated Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4 final to claim her second Grand Slam, found herself battling a cyberattack that could have cost her fans dearly. A fraudulent post featuring Gauff with her Coupe Suzanne Lenglen trophy appeared on her X handle, promoting a fake cryptocurrency called “Coco’s Token” with a link to a phishing site, cocostoken.com, urging followers to invest to “support underprivileged youth through sports.” Gauff’s swift response, however, turned a potential crisis into a display of her trademark composure, earning praise from fans and a few chuckles for their witty reactions.
The incident unfolded just days after Gauff’s historic victory in Paris, where she became the first American woman to win the French Open since Serena Williams in 2015. As she embarked on a whirlwind victory tour in the United States, including a memorable appearance on *The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon* where she crashed his monologue and was dubbed a “national treasure,” hackers seized control of her X account. The deceptive post, which was quickly reported and removed, aimed to exploit her massive online following—over 2.5 million across Instagram and X—by luring unsuspecting fans into a scam. The phishing link, designed to steal financial information, posed a significant threat, as similar crypto scams have drained millions from victims, with one reported case siphoning $800,000 from a single user.
Gauff, alerted to the breach, took immediate action via her Instagram Stories, where she commands a 2.1-million-strong audience. “My twitter got hacked… do not buy this. it’s not real, please spread the info,” she wrote, urging fans to avoid the fraudulent link. In a follow-up post, she emphasized, “My x account is hacked… do not buy or pay attention to anything posted until you hear from me on here (instagram) spread the word please! lol I don’t want people wasting their money.” Her quick thinking and transparency prevented potential financial losses, showcasing the same poise she displayed under pressure against Sabalenka’s 70 unforced errors in the French Open final. By early June 12, Gauff confirmed she had regained control of her account, posting on X, “hi guys.. my account was hacked but I am back. sorry for the inconvenience 🫶🏾,” and adding on Instagram, “Okay my x account is back up and running lol! sorry for the inconvenience 🫶🏾 and to all the hackers leaveee meee aloneee.”
The tennis star’s fans, known for their vibrant online support, responded with a mix of relief and humor. One fan quipped, “I knew you would never sell a crypto coin without a cute matching outfit and coordinating nail photo to announce it,” poking fun at Gauff’s well-documented flair for fashion, often showcased on social media where she checks reactions to her match outfits. Another, referencing her recent victory over Sabalenka, shared a GIF of the Belarusian player, joking that she might be “guilty” of the hack, a playful nod to their competitive rivalry. A third fan remarked, “Once you’re at the top everyone comes for ya! 😂😂 #momoneymoproblems,” alluding to Gauff’s estimated $35 million net worth, bolstered by $30.4 million in 2024 earnings from prize money and sponsorships with brands like New Balance and Head.
The hack, likely a phishing attack—a common tactic where cybercriminals use deceptive links to steal credentials—underscored the vulnerabilities faced by high-profile athletes. Gauff’s experience echoes similar incidents, such as the 2020 Twitter hack targeting celebrities like Bill Gates and Joe Biden, where a teenager used social engineering to access accounts and promote Bitcoin scams. Her proactive response, including warning fans and restoring her account, aligns with cybersecurity best practices like enabling two-factor authentication and avoiding suspicious links, measures experts recommend to prevent such breaches.
As Gauff prepares for the grass-court season at the 2025 Berlin Tennis Open, her focus remains on tennis, where she’s a favorite to challenge for Wimbledon. Her handling of the cyberattack, much like her on-court resilience, has only strengthened her bond with fans. “I had to force her to play that way and make a lot of balls and put those balls in the court,” Gauff said of her French Open strategy, a mindset that clearly extends to navigating off-court challenges with the same grit and grace.
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