MELBOURNE, Australia — Iga Swiatek voiced support for Coco Gauff’s concerns about the constant camera gaze at tennis tournaments, calling for more privacy and space for players to do things «without the whole world watching.»
Gauff highlighted the lack of privacy after her racket-smashing frustration away from the court went viral following her quarterfinal loss at the Australian Open on Tuesday. She said «conversations can be had» about the seemingly limitless access certain cameras have, tracking players from the locker room to the court and just about everywhere in between.
Swiatek, who lost 7-5, 6-1 to fifth-seeded Elena Rybakina on Wednesday, was asked how she felt about the lack of off-camera areas for the players and what she thinks about the balance between entertainment and player privacy.
Elina Svitolina on Day 10.
Gauff struggled with her serve in the 59-minute match and stayed composed as she left the center court before trying to find somewhere in the shadows to vent.
Turned out, there’s pretty much no place within the confines of Rod Laver Arena, except for the locker rooms, that is beyond the scope of the cameras.
«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,» Gauff said in her postmatch news conference. «I tried to go somewhere where I thought there wasn’t a camera because I don’t necessarily like breaking rackets.»
Gauff said she didn’t want to smash her racket on the court within sight of fans because she didn’t think it was a good look, which is why she saved it for a quieter area.
«So, yeah, maybe some conversations can be had,» she said, «because I feel like at this tournament the only private place we have is the locker room.»
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
