Craig Tiley Addresses the Camera Controversy at the Australian Open Amid Coco Gauff’s Viral Racket Smash Clip

Coco Gauff crashed out of the Australian Open after losing to Elina Svitolina in the quarter-finals.

Craig Tiley Addresses the Camera Controversy at the Australian Open Amid Coco Gauff’s Viral Racket Smash Clip

Craig Tiley and Coco Gauff (via X/Craig Tiley/Corrie Dello Sport)

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Australian Open chief Craig Tiley has insisted that a fine line has to be drawn between players’ promotion and privacy after Coco Gauff complained about the backstage cameras that caught her smashing her racket at the tournament. Iga Swiatek backed Gauff’s complaint, stressing that cameras being everywhere at the tournament makes it almost like a zoo.

On Tuesday (January 27), Gauff took on Ukrainian star Elina Svitolina in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open women’s singles. The American No. 1 was the favorite to win, but she played poorly, allowing Svitolina to win in straight sets in under an hour.

However, after the match, Gauff was upset with her performance and tried to find somewhere private to let her frustration out. She found her spot backstage, smashing her racket with all the force in her, hitting seven swipes in a walkway before stopping. But the ever-present backstage cameras caught the action, beaming her frustration around the world on TV and social media.

During her press conference, she noted that she didn’t know her actions would be broadcast as she needed some privacy after her humiliating loss. Swiatek then equated the constant recording to bringing “animals into the zoo”. The Polish star’s complaint came after footage of her being denied entry because she forgot her accreditation was trending on social.

Some ATP players, including Novak Djokovic, stressed that players are humans and that the current trend is moving towards more cameras and less players’ privacy. During a press conference at the Australian Open, Craig Tiley revealed the tournament is open to listening to players and understanding what they want following Gauff’s racket incident:

The first thing we want to do is listen to the players. We want to understand what they need, what they want; this is the first question we want to answer. Ultimately, there’s a very fine line between promoting the player/tournament and camera placement. There are many areas where we don’t have cameras: the coaches’ room, the locker rooms, the training room, the recovery room, the rest room… We’ll continue listening to the players and discovering what makes them feel comfortable.

Gauff’s loss at the Australian Open means she has failed to reach the semi-finals in two consecutive seasons. Meanwhile, Swiatek, who was expected to complete a Career Grand Slam at the event, crashed out in the quarter-finals after losing to Elena Rybakina in straight sets at the Rod Laver Arena.

WTA Chair says the governing body is committed to acting on players’ concerns after camera controversy

Jessica Pegula and Amanda Anisimova were among the players highlighting the lack of privacy at the Australian Open. The two American stars stressed that footage of Coco Gauff smashing her racket was not intended to be broadcast or shared on social media, as players are meant to be protected.

Jessica Pegula and Amanda Anisimova (via X/The Tennis Letter)
Jessica Pegula and Amanda Anisimova (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

Concerns from several women’s players have prompted the WTA to address the situation. The WTA Chair, Valerie Camillo, revealed via Reuters that making sure that off-court areas are not broadcast is completely valid, as it provides players with a private space. The tennis governing body added that they are committed to acting on players’ concerns:

Recent concerns raised by WTA players at the Australian Open about cameras in off-court player areas are completely valid. This is a very human and fair request – athletes need spaces where they can recover and not feel constantly under scrutiny. Providing that space is part of our responsibility as a sport. The WTA is committed to listening to its players and acting on concerns like this.

With this, the French Open, Wimbledon Championships, and the US Open will aim to prevent a repeat of Gauff’s racket-smashing footage. All four Grand Slams are known for broadcasting behind-the-scenes footage to give fans a unique view of the tournament.

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