Iga Swiatek and Novak Djokovic joined a growing chorus of players demanding more privacy off the courts at the Australian Open.
Cameras captured Coco Gauff in a post-match meltdown on Tuesday that the American said should have been a personal moment.
After the third seed’s 59-minute quarter-final defeat by Elina Svitolina, the frustrated American retreated behind a wall near the match call area deep in the bowels of the stadium to repeatedly smash her racquet on the ground.
Unbeknownst to Gauff, cameras recorded her every move and the video was broadcast to viewers around the world, with Gauff saying she was unhappy that there was no privacy anywhere except the locker room.
‘The question is, are we tennis players or are we animals in the zoo, where they are observed even when they poop?’ Swiatek told reporters after she lost 7-5 6-1 to Elena Rybakina in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
‘Okay, that was exaggerating obviously, but it would be nice to have some privacy. It would be nice also to have your own process and not always be observed.’
When asked whether she had spoken to the tournament’s organisers about the subject, Swiatek shrugged and said: ‘What’s the point?’
Tennis Australia said cameras in warm-up and cool-down areas were set up to provide fans with a ‘deeper connection’ to the players, but that they would collaborate with them to find solutions.
‘Striking the right balance between showcasing the personalities and skills of the players, while ensuring their comfort and privacy is a priority for the Australian Open,’ Tennis Australia said.
‘Our goal is always to create an environment that supports the players to perform at their best, while also helping fans appreciate their skill, professionalism and personalities.’
Djokovic, meanwhile, empathised with Gauff but did not see a future where fewer cameras would be the norm.
‘I agree with her. It’s really sad that you can’t basically move away anywhere and hide and fume out your frustration, your anger in a way that won’t be captured by a camera,’ Djokovic said.
‘But we live in a society and in times where content is everything, so it’s a deeper discussion. I guess it’s really hard for me to see the trend changing in the opposite direction, meaning we take out cameras.
‘I’m surprised that we have no cameras while we are taking a shower. That’s probably the next step. I’m against it.’