Coco Gauff bares all on absent loved ones who ‘come out of woodwork’ for US Open tickets

Coco Gauff has responded to an Instagram post made by her mother slamming absent friends and family members that have “come out of the woodwork” to ask for US Open tickets.

The two-time Slam winner’s mother, Candi, posted to her Instagram on Thursday, addressing the post to “family and friends” looking for guest tickets to see Gauff play in the States.

The 22-year-old won the 2023 US Open title, then secured a second slam on clay at Roland Garros in 2025. And with that success, expectation from absent loved ones appears to have followed.

Candi wrote: “I apologise in advance for this blunt, but necessary statement. I know you are very excited about Coco playing in the US Open. Me too!

“Coco’s guest ticket requests have already been accounted for,” she continued, as bluntly as promised. “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 two tickets. Coco is grown now, and she has her own friends that she is honouring tickets for the match.

“Thank you for your continued support,” Candi concluded. Now, Gauff has responded to her mother’s words during a pre-tournament presser at the US Open, with the 22-year-old looking to secure her third Slam title.

Gauff agrees with mother’s Instagram post, slams absent loved ones asking for US Open tickets

Ranked 4th in the world, Gauff enters the year’s final Grand Slam with a season record of 40-13. Her best result at a WTA major arrived at Wimbledon, where she made the semi-finals.

The 22-year-old arrives in strong form — after losing the first two WTA 1000 finals she made it to in 2026, she prevailed at the Cincinnati Open earlier this month versus Jessica Pegula.

The American superstar was given the opportunity to address her mother’s Instagram post in a pre-tournament conference, and did not hold back in her assessment.

“It was needed. It was directed toward a few family members and friends. To be honest, people come out of the woodwork. You haven’t spoken to someone for years, they don’t say ‘Congratulations’ or ‘Happy Birthday’ or nothing,” said Gauff.

“And then they’re like ‘Oh I’m in New York. Can I have 8 tickets to your match in your box please?’ They give us tickets here, but they’re [ultimately] selling an event. It’s not like I can give all these people tickets.

“Last year they were really stressed out between my mom and my dad trying to accommodate everyone. If we have it, we’ll give it. It was just stressful for them,” confessed the 22-year-old.

“A lot of people personally don’t have my number. They don’t reach out to me. They’ll reach out to them or someone on my team.

“I don’t know who the person [is] who sent her a text this year where she felt that was the final straw, but somebody must’ve sent her something and she was like, ‘I need to make a post.’ Specifically in New York, it’s just crazy.

“New York and Wimbledon are the ones I think people want to come to [the most]. We try our best to accommodate everyone. But some of their requests are — you’d be surprised how absurd they are,” concluded Gauff.

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The American’s opening round opponent, whom she will play on Monday at 4pm BST, is Zeynep Sonmez of Turkey, ranked 52nd in the world, as Gauff looks to secure a second US Open title.