Coco Gauff Blasts Broadcasters Over Privacy After Australian Open Racket Smash
Published: 27 January 2026 | 2 min read
MELBOURNE — Coco Gauff has accused broadcasters of violating her privacy after cameras captured her smashing her racket following a crushing Australian Open quarterfinal defeat.
The 21-year-old American, ranked world No. 3, lost 6-1, 6-2 to Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina in just 59 minutes—a performance marred by 26 unforced errors. Visibly frustrated, Gauff walked behind a wall near the match call area to vent in private, unaware that a camera was still rolling.
“I Tried to Go Somewhere With No Cameras”
“I tried to go somewhere where there were no cameras,” Gauff told reporters after the match. “I kind of have a thing with the broadcast. I feel like certain moments—the same thing happened to Aryna [Sabalenka] after I played her in the final of the US Open—I feel like they don’t need to broadcast.”
Sabalenka, now world No. 1, had her own racket-smashing moment broadcast after losing to Gauff in the 2023 US Open final—a parallel Gauff clearly hasn’t forgotten.
“I tried to go somewhere where they wouldn’t broadcast it, but obviously they did. Maybe some conversations can be had, because I feel like at this tournament the only private place we have is the locker room.”
Why She Needed an Outlet
Gauff defended her actions, explaining that venting frustration privately prevents her from lashing out at her team.
“I know myself, and I don’t want to lash out on my team. They’re good people. They don’t deserve that, and I know I’m emotional.
“I just took the minute to go and do that. I don’t think it’s a bad thing. I don’t try to do it on court in front of kids and things like that, but I do know I need to let out that emotion.
“Otherwise, I’m just going to be snappy with the people around me, and I don’t want to do that.”