Two top 10 players have voiced their concerns about the amount of privacy players are receiving at the Australian Open after a video of Coco Gauff went viral on Tuesday.
Gauff, who was seeded third in this year’s draw, suffered a crushing defeat to Elina Svitolina in the quarter-finals, where she won just three games. Shortly after the match, a camera caught the American walking down a corridor and smashing her racket multiple times out of temper. She later explained that she tried to go somewhere without cameras before adding that she feels the only place players are free from being watched is in the locker rooms.
Gauff’s swipe at the tournament’s camera coverage has since received backing from Iga Swiatek and Jessica Pegula, who agree the lack of privacy in Melbourne Park is a problem for them too.
“The question is, are we tennis players, or are we animals in the zoo where they are observed even when they poop, you know?,” Swiatek commented after losing to Elena Rybakina in the semi-finals.
“Okay, that was exaggerating obviously, but it would be nice to have some privacy. It would be nice also to, I don’t know, have your own process and not always be observed.
“It would be nice to have some space where you can do that without the whole world watching.”
Sweiatek, who was chasing a career Grand Slam at the tournament, adds that the focus on tennis players should concentrate on the court and in press conferences, instead of behind the scenes. When quizzed if she had voiced these complaints with tournament organisers, Swiatek replied ‘what’s the point?”
“I don’t think it should be like that because we’re tennis players,” she continued.
“We’re meant to be watched on the court and in the press. That’s our job. It’s not our job to be a meme when you forget your accreditation.
“Oh, it’s funny, yeah, for sure. People have something to talk about, but for us I don’t think it’s necessary.”
The issue has been an ongoing topic for a while, according to Pegula. However, she feels the situation has deteriorated in this year’s tournament.
“We were talking about cameras years ago. I remember when Maddie Keys, her number one priority on the (players) council was that we had to stop with these cameras. This is crazy,” she said.
“I think they ended up putting up signs so people knew there were cameras, but this year it feels even worse.”
Besides privacy, Pegula says there have also been issues regarding players being allowed to film certain things due to the event’s copyright policy.
“I’ve had the tournament tell me to take down some stuff because they own it. I’m, like, Are you serious? I post something that has to be taken down, but then you can see me in every single hallway that I’m walking in and post it online? It’s not cool.” She said.
“Coco was right to call it out. It’s definitely not something new, especially from a council perspective. It seems to be worse here than maybe other years, so I think now it’s definitely going to be talked about and highlighted again moving forward.”
