Coco Gauff has backed her mother's candid social media message aimed at friends and family requesting tickets for the U.S. Open. Candi Gauff posted on Instagram a "blunt but necessary statement" indicating that her daughter's tickets for the Grand Slam tournament were already accounted for, prompting a defense from the tennis star.
"Honestly, it was needed, and it was directed towards a few family and friends," Gauff said. "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?’"
Initially, Gauff believed her mother's post, which featured a photo of her holding the Cincinnati Open trophy, was a congratulatory message about her recent victory. However, Candi Gauff's intention was to address the persistent requests for tickets.
Her mother's post stated, "Unfortunately, I will not be able to hook you up with a ticket. 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."
Gauff, the fourth-ranked player in the world and seeded fourth in the women's singles at the U.S. Open, is a prominent American athlete at the tournament. Her matches at Arthur Ashe Stadium are in high demand, making ticket management a significant task for her team.
"We try our best to accommodate everyone, but some of the requests, you would be surprised at how absurd they are," Gauff explained. "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."
Gauff added that her mother posted the message to cease responding to such requests, ensuring those seeking tickets understood the reason.