American tennis sensation Coco Gauff has voiced her displeasure after footage of her smashing a racket in what she believed was a private area was broadcast to a worldwide audience. The incident occurred following her straight-sets defeat to Elina Svitolina in the Australian Open quarter-finals.
Frustration Boils Over After Melbourne Defeat
Gauff's frustration was palpable after a challenging match on Tuesday, where she was defeated 6-1, 6-2 in just 59 minutes. The 21-year-old committed 26 unforced errors during the encounter, including five double-faults in the opening set, which contributed to her comprehensive loss against the Ukrainian opponent.
Searching for Privacy in the Stadium Tunnel
Believing she had found a secluded spot to release her emotions, Gauff retreated to the tunnel connecting Rod Laver Arena to the stadium. "I tried to go somewhere where there were no cameras," Gauff explained to reporters during her post-match press conference. Unfortunately for the young American, a broadcast camera captured her repeatedly striking her racket against the floor, and the video quickly spread across social media platforms.
The world number three expressed her concerns about broadcast practices in tennis, drawing parallels to a similar incident involving Aryna Sabalenka. "I kind of have a thing with the broadcast. I feel like certain moments – the same thing happened to Aryna after I played her in final of the US Open – I feel like they don't need to broadcast," Gauff stated, referencing Sabalenka's own racket-smashing incident that was made public after her loss to Gauff in the 2023 US Open final.
Questioning Tournament Privacy Standards
Gauff suggested that tournament organisers should reconsider their broadcast policies regarding player privacy. "Maybe some conversations can be had, because I feel like at this tournament the only private place we have is the locker room," she added, highlighting what she perceives as limited private spaces for players to manage their emotions during high-pressure competitions.
Managing Emotions Away from the Court
The American star defended her decision to vent her frustration on her equipment rather than directing it toward her support team. "I think for me, I know myself, and I don't want to lash out on my team. They're good people. They don't deserve that, and I know I'm emotional," Gauff explained.
She elaborated on her approach to emotional management during tournaments: "I just took the 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."
American Presence in Melbourne Continues
Despite Gauff's quarter-final exit and fellow American Iva Jović's comprehensive 6-3, 6-0 defeat to Aryna Sabalenka, the United States remains guaranteed a semi-finalist in this year's Australian Open. Two American players, Amanda Anisimova and Jessica Pegula, are scheduled to face each other in Wednesday's quarter-final match in Melbourne.
Sabalenka, who comfortably defeated Jović, has now reached the semi-finals in 12 of her last 13 Grand Slam tournaments, demonstrating remarkable consistency at the highest level of women's tennis. The Belarusian will face Elina Svitolina in what promises to be a compelling semi-final encounter.
