American star Coco Gauff has suggested players do not have enough privacy at the Australian Open after vision of her smashing a racquet was broadcast on TV.
Gauff cut a frustrated figure throughout her 6-1, 6-2 quarterfinal loss to Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina, and then was shown smashing her racquet inside one of the tunnels at Melbourne Park.
“I tried to go somewhere where there was no cameras,” she told reporters when asked about the racquet smash.
“I kind of have a thing with the broadcast. I feel like certain moments … 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 racquets. Round of 16 of French Open, I think, 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.
“Maybe some conversations can be had because I feel like at this tournament, the only private place we have is the locker room.“
Gauff said she believed it was a healthier emotional option to smash the racquet and get the feelings out immediately than let them simmer.
She said she took the minute to smash the racquet rather than release any negative emotions on court, especially in front of kids.
“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 said.
“I 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 … They did their best, I did mine.”
It was a quarterfinal to forget for Gauff (pictured) as she was eliminated by Svitolina in straight sets. (Getty: Daniel Kopatsch)
Gauff’s sentiment echoed that of world number one Aryna Sabalenka, who has also previously defended losing her cool after defeats, including smashing racquets.
After she lost the Australian Open final last year to Madison Keys, Sabalenka smashed her racquet, put a towel over her head to hide her face and briefly walked off court.
“When you’re out there, you’re fighting, but it seems like everything’s not going the way you really want it to go,” she told reporters post-match.
“I just needed to throw those negative emotions at the end just so I could give a speech, not stand there being disrespectful. I was just trying to let it go and be a good person.”
Aryna Sabalenka (pictured) famously smashed her racquet on court after losing last year’s Australian Open final to Madison Keys. (Getty Images: Quinn Rooney)
After Gauff lost the opening set to Svitolina she said she felt she could reset, but then was unable to get many aspects of her game going.
Her team throughout the match was telling her to “keep fighting” and Gauff said post-match she’s usually able to scrap at least a lot tighter scorelines.
“I just felt like all the things I do well, I just wasn’t doing well today. The backhand wasn’t firing. Forehand wasn’t really firing. Returns. There was just a lot that didn’t go well,” she said.
“I credit to her because she forced me to play like that … Today was a bad, but bad days are often caused by your opponent, so she did well.”
Svitolina (pictured) played close to the perfect match as she advanced to the fourth grand slam semifinal of her career. (Getty Images: Fred Lee)
Gauff’s service game was dogged by errors, resulting in five double faults for the match, while she also had 26 unforced errors to Svitolina’s 16.
“I tried my best to be positive but I just felt like nothing for me at that moment was working. That’s a bit frustrating when you are out there and you feel like your strengths aren’t really doing their thing,” she said.
It was a different story for Svitolina, who will next face Sabalenka in the semifinals on Rod Laver Arena on Thursday.
Svitolina’s win over Gauff was her first against an opponent ranked inside the top-10.
This tournament also represents the fourth time Svitolina has made a grand slam semifinal — after trips to the semis at Wimbledon in 2019 and 2023 and at the US Open in 2019. She is yet to play in a grand slam final.
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