Coco Gauff Calls for More Privacy at the Australian Open After her Racket Smash Clip Goes Viral
Coco Gauff could only win three games against Elina Svitolina in the Australian Open quarterfinals.
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Coco Gauff destroyed her racket after her Australian Open exit (Image via X/Coco Gauff, The Tennis Letter)
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Coco Gauff—the world No. 3 and a two-time Grand Slam champion—saw her Australian Open run come to a screeching halt in the quarterfinals. But it wasn’t just the scoreline that got people talking. It was what happened after she walked off the court that sparked a global conversation about boundaries, broadcasting, and how much access is too much.
After a tough straight-sets loss to Elina Svitolina, a frustrated Gauff sought out a quiet corner to let off some steam. She found a tunnel, assumed she was off-air, and smashed her racquet. Unfortunately for her, the cameras were rolling, and the footage was beamed across the world.
In her post-match press conference, Gauff decided to discuss the lack of privacy for players to showcase their emotions.
Yeah, I tried to go somewhere where there was no cameras. Yeah, 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 final of 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 1 and 2. I broke one racket on quarters, I think, or round of 16 of 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.
The fans often demand that athletes be role models. They want them to be gracious in defeat and stoic under pressure. Gauff has openly spoken in the past about not wanting to smash racquets on the court because she knows kids are watching.
Coco is calling for change. pic.twitter.com/sjPimieLMo
— The First Serve (@TheFirstServeAU) January 27, 2026
Thinking she had found a private sanctuary in the tunnel leading to the locker rooms, Gauff let the emotions out and destroyed her racquet. It was a raw, human moment of disappointment. However, the broadcasters aired the footage, leading to an immediate backlash.
A tough day at the office for Coco Gauff
To understand the frustration, the fans have to look at the match itself. Tennis is a brutal sport; there are no teammates to hide behind when the serve abandons the player. On Tuesday in Melbourne, Coco Gauff just couldn’t find her rhythm.
She was up against Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina, who played what can only be described as a near-perfect match. Svitolina was relentless, wrapping up the victory 6-1, 6-2 in under an hour.
For Gauff, the stats told a painful story: five double faults and a staggering 26 unforced errors. Her usual weapons—that stinging backhand and athletic court coverage—seemed to misfire right when she needed them most.
Gauff held it together on the court. She shook hands, packed her bag, and walked off with her head high. But the internal pressure cooker was boiling over.
What’s next for Coco Gauff?
This stings right now, but if the fans know anything about Coco Gauff, it’s that she is resilient. Reaching the quarterfinals is no small feat, even if it feels like a failure to a player of her caliber.
This was her second consecutive quarterfinal exit in Melbourne (her best result here was the semis in 2024), proving she has the consistency to stay at the top of the game.
She will likely take some time to regroup, process the loss, and refocus on the clay court season and the French Open. She has happy memories in Paris, as she won her second Grand Slam title last year against Aryna Sabalenka.
One broken racquet doesn’t define a career, and one bad match doesn’t undo a season. Gauff will be back, and likely firing on all cylinders. Hopefully, next time she needs a moment to herself, the cameras will look the other way.
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