Coco Gauff gets candid about why her dad watches her games: "I want positivity"

Coco Gauff, one of tennis’s brightest stars, has opened up about a deeply personal decision—asking her father not to watch her matches from the stands. The 21-year-old American, who just reached her fifth consecutive French Open quarter-final, shared the reasoning behind the move during a candid conversation following her straight-sets victory over Ekaterina Alexandrova.

Despite her incredible run at Roland Garros this year—where she has yet to drop a single set—Gauff admitted that her father Corey’s presence courtside, once a constant throughout her early career, had become emotionally distracting.

The shift after Wimbledon 2023

Corey Gauff had been Coco’s primary coach until Wimbledon 2023, a tournament that ended in a disappointing first-round exit for the young star. It was after that match that the father-daughter duo had a frank conversation about his courtside demeanor.

“After Wimbledon, I lost first round and was like okay Dad, we both agreed that you shouldn’t sit in the box. We can go at it, because I just can’t with the reactions,” Gauff stated.

According to Coco Gauff, her father's emotional reactions—even if unintentional—sometimes sent the wrong signals during high-pressure moments.

“I Want Positivity” – Coco Gauff's need for a supportive vibe

Gauff elaborated on how she prefers a calm and supportive environment when she glances toward her player’s box.

“He has some reactions where if I look in the box I want positivity and I will see him go like this [head in hand] or [slap his thigh],” she explained. “He does not mean it.”

Interestingly, Gauff revealed that Corey displays the same tense behavior while watching her younger brothers play, indicating it’s more of a family trait than a critique.

“He does it with my brothers too! They are like ‘don’t sit right behind me too,’” she laughed.

A superstitious turnaround

Following their decision to keep some distance during matches, Gauff went on an impressive winning streak—clinching titles in Washington D.C., Cincinnati, and the US Open. That success seemed to cement her father’s acceptance of the change.

“He is a kind of superstitious guy so he was like okay whatever!” Coco Gauff added, suggesting that the results spoke for themselves.

While her father may now watch from afar, her mother, Candi, continues to be a regular and calming presence in the player's box, offering Coco the encouragement and emotional stability she seeks during matches.