Gauff backs mother for squashing ticket requests

NEW YORK -- Coco Gauff was caught by surprise when she saw her mom take to social media about excessive US Open ticket requests from family and friends.

That doesn't mean she has any issue with it.

A day after Candi Gauff posted on a "blunt but necessary statement" on Instagram saying her daughter's tickets for the Grand Slam tournament were spoken for, Coco defended the sentiment.

"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 8 tickets to your match in your box, please?"

Gauff is coming off winning the Cincinnati Open and initially thought her mother's post -- which included a photo of her holding the trophy -- was a sweet message about that victory. Instead, Candi Gauff had a point to make.

"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."

Coco Gauff won the US Open in 2023, is ranked fourth in the world and is seeded fourth this year in women's singles. As the most prominent American at the tournament, she is a fixture at Arthur Ashe Stadium and any of her matches instantly become a hot ticket.

Her parents and others on her team deal with most of the messages, shielding her from another unwelcome 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 deal with more of them from distant relatives or friends from elementary school, Gauff said her mom "wanted to post that because she is going to stop responding. At least they know why."