• Iga Swiatek publicly supported Coco Gauff’s call for more private spaces for players at the Australian Open.
  • Gauff’s racket-smashing moment, filmed off-court, reignited debate over constant camera access at venues.
  • Swiatek said players should be seen on court — not watched constantly off court — and asked for room to “do your own process.”

Swiatek echoes Gauff’s call for privacy

MELBOURNE — Iga Swiatek backed Coco Gauff’s concerns about relentless camera access at tennis tournaments, saying players deserve private space “to do their own process” without being observed everywhere.

What happened: Gauff’s private moment went public

Gauff, the world No. 3, smashed a racket into a concrete ramp near the player area after her quarterfinal loss at the Australian Open. The moment, captured by cameras outside the court, went viral and prompted questions about how much access is necessary in non-public areas.

Swiatek’s response after her loss

After a straight-sets defeat to Elena Rybakina, Swiatek was asked about the balance between entertainment and player privacy. She compared round-the-clock surveillance to feeling like “animals in the zoo” — an exaggeration she quickly acknowledged — and said it would be nice to have places to prepare before matches “without the whole world watching.”

Why the issue matters

Top players like Swiatek and Gauff naturally attract attention, and tournaments such as the Australian Open have increased fan engagement and live coverage across three weeks of events. But that expanded coverage often includes camera access to corridors, ramps and other areas beyond the court.

Players’ perspective

Swiatek noted that being watched while on court and in press duties is part of a player’s job, but she pushed back on being turned into a meme for small off-court moments — such as when she was briefly stopped by security after forgetting her credential.

Gauff’s stance

Gauff told reporters she had tried to find a secluded spot to vent because she didn’t want to smash a racket in front of fans. “Maybe some conversations can be had,” she said, pointing out that for her the only truly private place at the event was the locker room.

Broader context and links

The debate over camera access is not unique to Melbourne. Organizers balance fan engagement and broadcast demand with player comfort. Footage from non-public areas is not always broadcast widely, but clips quickly circulate online.

Read more: Gauff loses, smashes racket | Rybakina beats Swiatek | Pegula reaches semis

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Image Referance: https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/47750379/swiatek-echoes-gauff-calls-more-privacy-australian-open