Coco Gauff on online harassment, ‘I will literally spend 30 minutes blocking all the people… Just as you're entitled to write that, I'm entitled to block it… I don’t want to see it, so bye’ “Caroline García posted about the abuse she received after she lost. Obviously it's not…
I'm not entitled to read negative things about myself. Just as you're entitled to write that, I'm entitled to block it. - Coco Gauff
WTAThursday, 29 August 2024 at 12:30
Coco Gauff found a simple route again through at the 2024 US Open seeing off Tatjana Maria without a great degree of difficulty. Perhaps she spent more time blocking abuse as she opened up on her tactics for online harassment.
The third seed and defending champion spoke after Caroline Garcia aimed to take a stand yesterday against online abuse with a damning message aimed also at tennis authorities being complicit in using betting companies as sponsors.
Gauff was quizzed on it and said she simply blocks anyone who sends abuse and she goes through blocking people as she doesn't want to see it.
“I didn't see her post, but they briefed me about it. Obviously it's tough. Especially when I was younger, I had no idea that this was a thing. 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. I personally just block.
"I'm someone, I will literally spend 30 minutes blocking all the people. I really don't care. I know it's a little, small thing on Twitter because I was blocking so many people. They are, like, ‘You say anything, and she blocks.’ Yes, I do (laughing). I don't want to see it, so bye.
So, yeah, it was a thing. People got mad. I was, like, I don't really care. I'm not entitled to read negative things about myself. Just as you're entitled to write that, I'm entitled to block it. It is unfortunate.
"Obviously the block can only do so much. People make new accounts.
Just for players, I don't know. I just try not to read it as much or take it too personally, but it is getting to the point where, you know, I know that a lot of tournaments are trying to step in and have different Al things. I hope as technology increases, that can help.
It is tough, and you could be having a good day, and then somebody will literally tell you, ‘Oh, go kill yourself.’ You're, like, Okay, thanks.
I really hope that players just continue to not look at it and especially Caroline. She's a super nice girl. It sucks, but I hope people -- I mean, I always say people can be more mindful and be kinder, but you know, millions of people have said that, and only a few listen. Hopefully the Al stuff can help in the future.”
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