Nick Kyrgios Comes to Coco Gauff’s Defense After Australian Open Racket-Breaking Controversy: “She Did Nothing Wrong”

Nick Kyrgios was last seen in action in the second round of this year's Australian Open mixed doubles.

Nick Kyrgios Comes to Coco Gauff’s Defense After Australian Open Racket-Breaking Controversy: “She Did Nothing Wrong”

Coco Gauff, Nick Kyrgios (Image via X/Barstool Tennis, Game, Set & Talk)

In Short
  • Coco Gauff faced backlash for smashing her racket during the Australian Open, prompting criticism of behind-the-scenes cameras.
  • Nick Kyrgios defended Gauff, stating that players need private spaces to express frustration without judgment.
  • The ATX Open introduced a "rage room" for players to vent without being filmed, although Gauff did not participate.

Coco Gauff made a lot of headlines during this year’s Australian Open because of the racket-breaking controversy. She was filmed smashing her racket after her quarterfinal defeat to Elina Svitolina.

After her defeat, Gauff found an area where she thought nobody could see her, without having any idea that the cameras were capturing her every activity. Later, Gauff criticized the tournaments for the presence of behind-the-scenes cameras almost everywhere at the venue, and urged the tournament to provide more off-camera spaces for the players.

Several players have come to Gauff’s support, including Iga Swiatek and Novak Djokovic. Now Nick Kyrgios has given his take on the same during his interview with Tennishead.

Look, for the sport to grow, it needs access—but not into every inch of our lives. There needs to be spaces where we can get away, relax, and let off some steam without being crucified for it. I stand with Coco; I think she did nothing wrong. She loves the game and showed how much it meant to her—what’s the issue?

After the controversy, the ATX Open, a WTA 250 event, introduced the rage room, where players can let out their frustrations without worrying about being filmed. Though Gauff did not play in the tournament.

The clay swing is underway, and Gauff will be starting her campaign like several other top players at the Stuttgart Open, where last year, she lost to Jasmine Paolini in the quarterfinals. Gauff, the winner of two clay-court singles titles, lost to Aryna Sabalenka and Paolini in the finals of last year’s Madrid Open and the Italian Open, respectively.

But the 22-year-old was successful in getting her revenge on the Belarusian by denying her the French Open title. Gauff, who last year won two titles, will be bidding to end her trophy drought in Stuttgart. She was last seen in action at the Miami Open, where she reached the final for the first time, only to lose in straight sets to the four-time Grand Slam singles champion.

Nick Kyrgios gives his opinion on women playing the best-of-five matches

Many believe that women playing the best-of-five matches in Grand Slam events will solve the equal-pay debate. Former Australian Open director Craig Tiley had proposed the idea of women competing in best-of-five from the quarterfinal onward.

Nick Kyrgios
Nick Kyrgios (Image via X/Advantage Tennis)

When Nick Kyrgios was asked for his opinion on the same during his interview with Tennishead, he said women can play in this format before proposing a change to the men’s format.

Yes, women can play best-of-five sets. But honestly, that’s not the main issue. Men could play best-of-three sets until the quarterfinals and then best-of-five. That would solve all the scheduling issues at Grand Slams, lead to more upsets, allow fans to watch more matches in a day—the list goes on.

Both Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek think they will have an advantage over other players if they play the best-of-five format. But the six-time Grand Slam champion also thinks changing the format won’t make any sense because of the schedule.

Both players will be in action in Stuttgart, where Swiatek had won back in 2022 and 2023 by beating Sabalenka. The World No.1 reached the final last year but failed to beat Jelena Ostapenko.

Kyrgios, on the other hand, has not competed in an official match since the Australian Open mixed doubles. He and fellow one-time Grand Slam finalist Leylah Fernandez exited after making the second round. The Aussie wants to return to the tour during the grass swing and plans to play at Wimbledon, where, back in 2022, he finished as the runner-up.

Also read: Former British No.1 Throws Major Seeding Warning to Novak Djokovic Ahead of Roland Garros