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Coco Gauff is opening up about the challenges that come with fame, including learning to recognize who genuinely supports her and who may simply want to benefit from her success.
Speaking during US Open media day on Friday, Aug. 28, the 22-year-old tennis star addressed the growing attention surrounding requests for tickets to the tournament. Her comments came one day after her mother, Candi Gauff, shared a direct message asking family and friends to stop requesting multiple tickets.
"Honestly it is tough, because you've got to navigate who is there to genuinely support and who is there for the ride," Gauff said. She added that she feels fortunate to have good judgment when it comes to identifying the people who are in her life for the right reasons.
Gauff, who won the US Open in 2023, is entering this year's tournament focused on making another deep run and potentially claiming another title. However, she is also aware of the attention and expectations that come with being one of tennis' biggest young stars.
Her mother addressed the ticket situation on Instagram on Thursday, Aug. 27, explaining that the family had already accounted for Coco's guest ticket requests.
Candi apologized for being blunt but said the message was necessary. She explained that she would no longer be able to provide tickets to relatives and friends who asked for them and encouraged them to make their own arrangements to attend the tournament.
She also asked people not to request more than two tickets, pointing out that Coco is now an adult with her own friends whose matches she wants to accommodate.
Gauff said she agrees with her mother's approach and admitted that some of the requests her parents receive can be surprising.
"I have seen some of the requests my parents have gotten, and it's people they probably went to elementary school [with] and they'll literally ask for five, six tickets," she said.
The tennis star added that she personally would never ask someone for more than two tickets.
While Gauff understands that some people may not realize they are crossing a line, she acknowledged that her mother likely decided to make the situation public because she plans to stop responding to such requests.
"But yeah, it's okay. You know, some people just don't know any better," Gauff said, adding that Candi likely wanted people to understand why she would no longer respond.
As Gauff prepares to compete on one of tennis' biggest stages once again, she is also navigating the boundaries that come with growing fame and learning to protect the relationships that truly matter.
