“Disturbed, stressed, traumatized” Coco Gauff says she will never drive alone in Ohio after horror movie experience during Cincinnati Open
Coco Gauff, the world No. 2 and 2023 US Open champion, shared a chilling experience that left her “disturbed, stressed, traumatized” during the 2025 Cincinnati Open, vowing never to drive alone in Ohio again. The 21-year-old American, competing in the tournament’s quarterfinals, recounted the harrowing aftermath of watching the horror movie *Weapons* alone in a Cincinnati theater, an ordeal that profoundly impacted her. Gauff detailed the experience in a Tennis Channel interview and on TikTok, where her visceral reaction underscored the intensity of the incident.
On August 12, 2025, Gauff attended a late-night screening of *Weapons*, a new horror film released the previous week. She described being “visibly disturbed,” admitting, “I literally screamed in the theatre” (www.sportskeeda.com). The film’s unsettling content, combined with the eerie atmosphere of driving alone in rural Ohio afterward, amplified her fear. “I don’t recommend seeing scary movies alone,” she said. “And then having to drive back in the middle of the night in the middle of Ohio doesn’t help either. So I don’t know if I’ll do that again” (www.sportskeeda.com). The empty parking lot and deserted roads after 10 p.m. heightened her anxiety, with Gauff noting, “There’s nobody on the road in Ohio after like 10 p.m., so why do I do this?” (www.ezeroad.com).
Gauff’s candid TikTok post, where she used the words “stressed” and “traumatized,” resonated with fans, some of whom praised her relatability, with one X post stating, “Coco Gauff being scared out of her mind after a horror movie is so real” (@SK__Tennis, August 15, 2025). Others empathized with her fear of driving alone, noting Ohio’s quiet roads (www.sportskeeda.com). Despite the ordeal, Gauff’s on-court performance remained strong, as she cruised to the Cincinnati quarterfinals with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Lucia Bronzetti, marking her 19th WTA 1000 quarterfinal before age 22, surpassing Serena Williams’ record (www.sportskeeda.com).
The incident draws parallels to other athletes managing off-field challenges, like Emma Raducanu abandoning solo walks after a stalker incident or Carlos Alcaraz navigating umpire disputes. Gauff’s experience highlights the mental toll of fame, especially for young stars in high-pressure environments. As she prepares to face Jasmine Paolini in the Cincinnati quarterfinals and gears up for the US Open, where she will focus solely on singles due to a packed schedule, Gauff’s resolve to avoid solo drives in Ohio underscores her focus on safety and mental well-being amidst her rising stardom.
