Tennis-Gauff marches on as dad keeps distance at Australian Open

Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 23, 2026 Coco Gauff of the U.S. in action during her third round match against Hailey Baptiste of the U.S. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang

MELBOURNE, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Coco ‌Gauff’s march into the Australian Open fourth round on Friday came without her ‌most ardent supporter in her player's box — a deliberate family decision after her ‌dad proved too wound-up to watch courtside.

The twice Grand Slam champion said her dad Corey was somewhere at Melbourne Park as she overhauled Hailey Baptiste 3-6 6-0 6-3 in an all-American matchup at Margaret Court Arena.