MELBOURNE – Iga Swiatek and Novak Djokovic voiced their support for Coco Gauff’s concerns. Two of the most prominent figures on the women’s tour called for clearer boundaries regarding how much of their lives is shown off the court. Djokovic empathised with the 21-year-old.
“The question is: are we tennis players, or are we animals in the zoo where they are observed even when they poop?” said the world No. 2 after her elimination from the Australian Open, joining a debate that erupted on Tuesday night in Melbourne.
“Okay, that was obviously an exaggeration, but it would be nice to have some privacy. It would also be nice to live your own process without always being observed,” she added.
Gauff smashed her racquet in one of the underground corridors of Melbourne Park after being outplayed by Elina Svitolina in the quarter-finals. The North American struggled badly on Rod Laver Arena and fell 6-1, 6-2 to the Ukrainian. After the defeat, she vented her frustration, trying to avoid being caught on camera.
Coco Gauff smashed her racket in frustration in the corridors after his crushing defeat.
pic.twitter.com/UP96I3K1ay— 🇺🇸 COCO GAUFF 👑 NEWS (@CocoGauffLove) January 27, 2026
“There are certain moments — the same thing happened to Aryna (Sabalenka) after I played her in the US Open final — that I feel don’t need to be broadcast,” Gauff told the media in Melbourne.
“I tried to go somewhere where I thought there wasn’t a camera, because I don’t necessarily like breaking racquets,” added the 2025 French Open champion.
At Grand Slam tournaments, the spotlight intensifies. TV audiences rise, and broadcasters play a central role. It’s no longer just about what happens on court — the behind-the-scenes story has become part of the spectacle.
So where is the line between what should be shown to the world and what should remain private?
“I’m surprised we don’t have cameras in the showers yet. That’s probably the next step,” Djokovic said sarcastically.
“I’m against that,” said the Serb after reaching the semi-finals following Lorenzo Musetti’s retirement.
“Sometimes you want to relax and be yourself, in the sense that you don’t want the public to see everything.”
Looking ahead, Djokovic was realistic. It is naive to think there will be fewer cameras or that players’ complaints will make a change: “There’s always commercial demand. People want to see how we warm up, what we say to our coaches, how we cool down. They want to see us arriving in the car, walking through corridors… it’s hard for me to imagine that going backwards. We just have to accept it.”
Recently, a video of Swiatek went viral after she tried to enter the players’ gym without her credential. Security denied her access, and she had to wait a few minutes until someone from her team brought it to her.
“We’re meant to be watched on court and in press conferences — that’s our job,” said the six-time Grand Slam champion, who exited the Australian Open in the quarter-finals. “It’s not our job to become a meme when you forget your accreditation.”
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