Coco Gauff has lifted the lid on the ‘absurd’ ticket requests she receives ahead of the US Open – a day after her mother warned family and friends not to bother trying to get in their box at Flushing Meadows.
Gauff will be one of the headline attractions when tennis fans descend on New York for the final Grand Slam of 2026. The 22-year-old won her maiden major title at the 2023 US Open and she will be among the favorites to lift the trophy this year.
But ahead of the tournament, which kicks off on Sunday, Candi Gauff issued a ‘blunt’ warning to loved ones and hangers on that the world No 4 is already out of guest tickets.
‘Dear Family and friends,’ she wrote on Instagram. ‘I apologize 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 request have already been accounted for.
‘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 tickets for the match. Thank you for your continued support.’
Coco Gauff has lifted the lid on the ‘absurd’ ticket requests she receives ahead of the US Open
Her mother warned family and friends not to bother trying to get in their box in New York
‘Coco’s guest ticket request have already been accounted for,’ Candi Gauff wrote on Instagram
The message went down well with some of Gauff’s compatriots. ‘Honestly we all need a @candigauff in our life,’ Danielle Collins wrote. Madison Keys, meanwhile, commented: ‘Iconic’
On Friday, Gauff was asked about her mother’s comments, with the American admitting she ‘did not know she was posting that.’ But the world No 4 echoed her sentiments and opened up on the ‘absurd’ requests that are made.
‘It was needed. It was directed toward a few family and friends,’ Gauff explained. ‘To be honest people come out the woodworks – you haven’t spoken to someone for years, they don’t say congrats or happy birthday or nothing 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 you know, they were selling in advance. So 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. 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 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 wanna come to. We try our best to accommodate everyone. But some of their requests are.. you’d be surprised how absurd they are.’
Those friends and family who missed out on Gauff’s guest tickets face paying eye-watering prices to have a chance to see the 22-year-old.
A grounds pass for the opening day of the tournament is currently on sale for $314, while the cheapest seat at Arthur Ashe Stadium for the first night session costs $172.
