Gauff is now preparing for a demanding phase of the calendar, where she is set to defend significant points. She reached the finals in both Madrid and Rome last season, before going on to claim the title at Roland Garros, making the upcoming clay stretch one of the most important segments of her year.
“Deleted twitter for a month, came back today, and got instantly reminded why I should not be on here lol :/”
Online abuse in context of visibility
“It’s the worst you can get. Death threats, to your family, to yourself. 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.”
The issue becomes more pronounced during periods of high visibility, such as deep tournament runs or finals appearances. Gauff’s recent results, including her Miami final, have kept her at the centre of attention, increasing both engagement and exposure across digital platforms.
Clay swing focus and upcoming schedule
Gauff is expected to return to competition next week at the Stuttgart Open, marking the beginning of her clay-court campaign. The tournament will serve as her first appearance on the surface this season, ahead of the WTA 1000 events in Madrid and Rome and the second Grand Slam of the year at Roland Garros.
Alongside her competitive schedule, Gauff has also pointed to the need for broader action in addressing online abuse, calling for greater involvement from social media platforms.
“It’s something that we have to keep bringing awareness to,” she said back in January 2026. “I would love for some of the social media platforms to get involved, not only when it comes to tennis players. Influencers, other athletes, they all get these comments, so it’s something that can be addressed. 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.”