RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesNEW YORK — The tennis star does not know which of her extended family members or friends ticked off her mother.
But on the eve of the U.S. Open, the busiest time of year for many players, especially past champions in New York who are also American, someone had worn on Candi Gauff’s nerves enough to make her pick up the phone and start typing.
“Dear family and friends,” she wrote on Instagram alongside a picture of her daughter, Coco Gauff, posing with the trophy she’d recently won at the Cincinnati Open.
“I apologize in advance for this blunt, but necessary statement. I know you are very excited about Coco playing in the [sic] 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.”
Her post resonated. “Say it louder for the people in the back,” Jessica Pegula wrote in a comment.
“That was the best thing I’ve ever seen,” Frances Tiafoe said when asked about it in a news conference.
“There you go, Mrs. Gauff,” Ben Shelton said, nodding, when he was told about the message.
Candi Gauff, well known on the tennis circuit and a fixture in her daughter’s cheering section during matches, got a knowing chuckle out of every player who was asked about the post.
While U.S. Open ticket prices surging on resale markets has caused fans plenty of angst this year, the allocation dance, and the hangers-on that might accompany it, causes issues for players too. No player truly loses sleep over handling their ticket requests, but it is a universal — and rather icky — experience, getting an out-of-the-blue text from a distant acquaintance or out-of-touch family member asking for Grand Slam tickets.
“No, to be honest, people come out of the woodwork,” Gauff said with a hand-wave in a news conference, after explaining she was not aware of her mom’s plans to make a public announcement. She’d seen the post but scrolled right past it, assuming it was a congratulatory message for her win at the Cincinnati Open.
“You haven’t spoken to someone for years. They don’t say congrats or happy birthday or anything, then they’re like, ‘Oh, I’m in New York, can I have eight tickets to your match in your box, please.’”
“… I have big family from both sides, but, you know, like any family, there are just some people you don’t really talk to. So those are the ones that seem to ask the most.”
Grand Slams allocate tickets to players for use at their discretion. The USTA declined to comment on exactly how many tickets it gives to players.
Peak season for requests is generally July to September. Americans will see an uptick during the U.S. Open, where the tournament has grown in cultural relevance in recent years, especially among the influencer set, and Wimbledon, where exclusivity is part of the draw.
Taylor Fritz said an average of 15-20 people will text him directly asking for anywhere from two to six tickets, though he doesn’t know how many inquiries his agent or coaches field. Fritz deals with the requests himself, since the player’s box is ultimately his domain, but it can get overwhelming when he’s also trying to focus on his game.
“I’ll reply to the people that, like, should be asking me for tickets, and I won’t reply to the people that should know better than that,” Fritz said with a smile.
Others take themselves out the equation completely. Frances Tiafoe said he has a team member handling requests, and Ben Shelton avoids any awkwardness or decision making by going dark — he tends to turn off his phone during big tournaments.
“A lot of people are like, ‘I texted you!’ Sorry, brother. I didn’t see it,” Shelton said, grinning.
But Shelton’s method means he spends a good amount of time apologizing to his parents, who end up dealing with texts from people who can’t reach their son.
Gauff’s mom and dad have been managing the asks for seven years on behalf of their daughter, who shot to stardom at age 15 and doesn’t give out her phone number to many people. She said her parents were stressed out last year trying to accommodate everyone — because they do strive to accommodate those who want to support their daughter — and understands how her mom hit what she called a “tipping point.”
As humorous of an issue as it is, Gauff acknowledged it speaks to the nature of fame and how a successful athlete draws boundaries without turning her back on her community.
“It is tough, because you’ve got to navigate who is there to genuinely support and you who is there for the ride. I feel like I have been blessed with good discernment to kind of know who is there for the right reasons,” Gauff said.
Good discernment — and a mother who knows how to handle business.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic .
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