Coco Gauff said she was expecting to receive hate messages online after missing a match point in an agonising Wimbledon last-four loss to Karolina Muchova on Thursday.
The 22-year-old, playing in her first Wimbledon semifinal, slipped to a 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (12/10) defeat in a dramatic match on Centre Court.
The heart and desire on show.@CocoGauff, you'll be back 🫶#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/gSPUamgPlG
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 9, 2026
Gauff had a golden opportunity to win the match when leading 9-8 in the deciding-set tie-break, but opted for a drop shot on a short return from Muchova, only to send it into the net with her opponent stranded.
The American later said she assumed that when she logged into her social media accounts, there would be hateful comments waiting for her from disgruntled gamblers.
"I'll be online. Probably already got some hate comments and stuff. It's okay. Just makes you stronger," said Gauff, a two-time Grand Slam champion.
"Bettors who lose who are mad and stuff. It's the usual. It sucks, but it's like, whatever.
"I'll come on the winning end next time and I'll be sure to tag them."
Several players in recent years have spoken out about hateful messages on social media, including death threats.
In January 2024, tennis' governing bodies launched an AI tool called the 'Threat Matrix' to monitor social-media abuse of players.
The WTA and ITF later said analysts had verified around 8 000 messages as "abusive, violent or threatening" in 2024, highlighting "angry gamblers increasingly targeting players".
'NO REGRETS'
Gauff had not reached a Grand Slam semifinal since winning last year's French Open but showed a real upturn in form at the All England Club.
"I left it all out there... I don't have any regrets. I think it's just obviously points I want to make better decisions on," she added.
The seventh seed said she knew some people would question her decision to go for a drop shot on match point.
"People who don't watch tennis are going to be like, 'Why did you do that?' At the end of the day, that's the choice I made," said Gauff.
"Was it the right one in that moment? Maybe not. But then also, if I make it, everyone's going to say how clutch of a shot that was. I think that's just tennis."
Gauff had never reached the quarterfinals in six previous visits to the All England Club, despite shocking Venus Williams en route to the last 16 on her Grand Slam debut as a 15-year-old in 2019.
"It's not a painful story," she said of just missing out on Saturday's final.
"I think thousands of people would love to lose the semifinals at Wimbledon on match point.
"This is something I wouldn't love to experience again, for sure. I think it will make my next moment when I win a match like this even sweeter."
The levels in that match. What a battle. #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/Zt4lBHtoV4
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 9, 2026