INDIAN WELLS, Calif., March 3 - World number four Coco Gauff said on Tuesday she was troubled by reports of civilian deaths linked to recent U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, and expressed sympathy for those affected.
Addressing reporters at the Indian Wells tournament, the American player said she was concerned about what she described as unnecessary violence and offered her thoughts for the innocent lives lost. "First off, what’s happening is unfortunate, and my thoughts and prayers are out there for everyone affected and for the innocent lives being taken," Gauff said. "I think it’s a lot of unnecessary violence going on."
The incident has drawn attention after Iran described the U.S. assault as unprovoked and U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration gave what have been described as conflicting reasons for the attack. Iranian state media reported that among the civilian casualties were more than 160 killed in a strike on a girls’ school on Saturday. Administration officials have said they are looking into the incident and that the U.S. would not deliberately target schools.
The fallout from the conflict has extended into professional tennis. An ATP Challenger event in the United Arab Emirates was abruptly halted on Tuesday, then cancelled after a security alert prompted players and other personnel to leave courts and move to designated safe areas.
Travel in the region has been disrupted as well. Some players, ATP staff and coaches remain stranded in Dubai following a recent tournament, with Gauff’s coach Gavin MacMillan among those affected. The disruptions have left coaches and support teams unable to move freely as the situation evolves.
The WTA’s commercial links to the Middle East were also noted. The tour holds strong ties in the region, including staging the season-ending WTA Finals in Riyadh last year, and the WTA women’s rankings carry the naming-rights sponsorship of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).
Gauff, 21, said she has historically felt safe competing in Middle Eastern venues and expressed relief at having departed the region prior to the recent escalation. "I think it’s just a lot of unfortunate circumstances that are happening right now," she said. "I am thankful that I was able to get out of that before things turned to where it is now."
Reflecting on how global events can intrude on sport, Italian player Jannik Sinner commented on maintaining focus amid uncertainty. "There are certain scenarios we cannot control, so I tried to be focused. "But you also realize that there are much more important things in life than playing tennis," Sinner said.
Advertising and promotional material included with coverage has highlighted investment research products, noting that institutional-grade data and AI-powered insights may aid investors in identifying opportunities. Those promotional notes invite readers to consider tools that combine data and analysis to evaluate potential 2026 investments.