Coco Gauff backs her mother’s message about US Open ticket requests
Coco Gauff said she supports her mother’s decision to address excessive US Open ticket requests from family members and friends, even though the tennis star was surprised to see the message on social media.
A day after Candi Gauff posted a “blunt but necessary statement” on Instagram saying her daughter’s tickets for the Grand Slam tournament were already allocated, Coco defended the post.
“Honestly, it was needed, and it was directed towards a few family and friends,” Gauff said Friday. “People come out of the woodwork. You haven’t spoken to someone for years. They don’t say, ‘Congrats’ or, ‘Happy birthday’ or nothing. Then they’re like, ‘Oh, I’m in New York, can I have eight tickets to your match in your box, please?”
Gauff had recently won the Cincinnati Open and initially believed her mother’s post, which included a photo of her holding the trophy, was a celebratory message about the victory. Instead, Candi Gauff used the post to set boundaries over US Open ticket requests.
“Unfortunately, I will not be able to hook you up with a ticket,” she wrote. “Please make arrangements to purchase a ticket. Side note, never ask for more than 2 tickets. Coco is grown now and she has her own friends that she is honoring [with] tickets for the match. Thank you for your continued support.”
Why Coco Gauff’s US Open matches are in high demand
Coco Gauff won the US Open in 2023, is ranked fourth in the world and is seeded fourth in this year’s women’s singles draw. As the most prominent American player at the tournament, she is a regular presence at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where her matches quickly become some of the most sought-after tickets.
Gauff’s parents and other members of her team handle most of the ticket messages, helping shield her from another unwanted distraction.
“We try our best to accommodate everyone, but some of the requests, you would be surprised at how absurd they are,” Gauff said. “I feel like my mom hit a tipping point because it’s been going on since 15, and they really are my safeguards and I am lucky they try to make sure no one is hitting up my phone, so I don’t really get many requests.”
Rather than continue dealing with requests from distant relatives or friends from elementary school, Gauff said her mother made the public statement to explain why she would no longer respond.
Gauff said her mom “wanted to post that because she is going to stop responding. At least they know why.”
