2026-01-27 13:10:09
Coco Gauff bemoaned a lack of privacy for tennis players after she was caught smashing a racket by behind-the-scenes cameras at the Australian Open.
The world number three crashed out in Melbourne after an error-strewn loss to Elina Svitolina in Tuesday’s (27.01.26) quarter-final and was disappointed that her anger was made public even though she had tried to let off her frustration in a private space.
Gauff told reporters: “I tried to go somewhere where there was no cameras.
“I kind of have a thing with the broadcast. I feel like certain moments – the same thing happened to Aryna (Sabalenka) after I played her in the final of the US Open – I feel like they don’t need to broadcast.
“I tried to go somewhere where I thought there wasn’t a camera, because I don’t necessarily like breaking rackets, but I lost [6-1 and 6-2].
“I broke one racket in a quarter-final or round of 16 of the French Open, I think, and I said I would never do it again on court, because I don’t feel like that’s a good representation.
“I tried to go somewhere where they wouldn’t broadcast it, but obviously they did. So maybe some conversations can be had, because I feel like at this tournament the only private place we have is the locker room.”
Gauff claims she should have been able to take out her frustration on the racket rather than venting her anger at her coaching team.
The two-time Grand Slam winner said: “They’re good people. They don’t deserve that, and I know I’m emotional.
“I just took a minute to go and do that. I don’t think it’s a bad thing. Like I said, I don’t try to do it on court in front of kids and things like that, but I do know I need to let out that emotion.
“Otherwise, I’m just going to be snappy with the people around me, and I don’t want to do that, because like I said, they don’t deserve it. They did their best. I did mine. Just need to let the frustration out.”
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