{"id":112941,"date":"2026-01-28T00:09:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T00:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=112941"},"modified":"2026-01-28T00:09:00","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T00:09:00","slug":"gauff-calls-for-more-player-privacy-after-racquet-smash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=112941","title":{"rendered":"Gauff calls for more player privacy after racquet smash"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \t<\/i> Read Time:<\/span>4 Minute, 8 Second <\/div>\n\n <\/div>
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Coco Gauff called for more privacy for players after she was captured smashing a racquet following a devastating defeat by Elina Svitolina in the Australian Open quarter-finals.<\/p>\n

A despondent Gauff, 21, served five double faults, made 26 unforced errors and hit just three winners in a 6-1 6-2 loss that took just 59 minutes.<\/p>\n

The American did not smash the racquet on court but was filmed by the tournament\u2019s behind-the-scenes coverage in the players\u2019 area, with the footage broadcast on TV and social media.<\/p>\n

Gauff said she had made a conscious effort to suppress her emotions until she was away from public view.<\/p>\n

She referenced a similar incident at the 2023 US Open, when Aryna Sabalenka was captured smashing her racquet after losing the final to Gauff.<\/p>\n

\u201cI tried to go somewhere where there was no cameras,\u201d said Gauff.<\/p>\n

\u201cCertain moments \u2013 the same thing happened to Aryna after I played her in the US Open final \u2013 I feel like they don\u2019t need to broadcast.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe some conversations can be had, because I feel like, at this tournament, the only private place we have is the locker room.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ukraine\u2019s Svitolina will go on to face title favourite Sabalenka after the world number one dominated teenager Iva Jovic 6-3 6-0.<\/p>\n

On why she felt the need to smash her racquet in the aftermath, Gauff said: \u201cI don\u2019t want to lash out on my team. They don\u2019t deserve that.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s a bad thing. I try not to do it on court in front of kids and things like that, but I do know I need to let out that emotion.\u201d<\/p>\n

Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash said players need privacy during an emotionally taxing tournament.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are cameras absolutely everywhere and players need to have quiet areas,\u201d he said on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the only sanctuary a well-known tennis player really gets other than their hotel room.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlayers have got to be in the locker room and their hotel room to have any sort of privacy \u2013 that\u2019s not really right.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gauff had demonstrated her resilience with back-to-back three-set wins to reach the quarter-finals, but she was never able to gain a foothold against Svitolina.<\/p>\n

The Ukrainian 12th seed was ruthless, taking six of her seven break point opportunities to reach a first Australian Open semi-final.<\/p>\n

Having made a tour-leading 431 double faults last season \u2013 131 more than any other player \u2013 Gauff has made a concerted effort to improve her serve, hiring biomechanics specialist Gavin MacMillan, who previously helped Sabalenka.<\/p>\n

But five double faults in the first set \u2013 including on break point to go 2-1 down and on set point \u2013 contributed towards a dismal end to her tournament.<\/p>\n

\u2018Trophy or nothing\u2019 mentality for Sabalenka<\/h2>\n

Sabalenka, the 2023 and 2024 winner, said her mentality is \u201ctrophy or nothing\u201d after overpowering rising American star Jovic.<\/p>\n

The 27-year-old Belarusian, who has a favourable 5-1 head-to-head record against Svitolina, has now made the semi-final stage at 14 of the past 17 majors she has contested.<\/p>\n

She has become only the third women\u2019s player to reach eight consecutive singles semi-finals at Grand Slams in the past 38 years, after Lindsay Davenport and Martina Hingis.<\/p>\n

Sabalenka has reached this year\u2019s semi-finals at Melbourne Park without dropping a set, taking her winning streak at the start of 2026 to 10 matches and 20 consecutive sets.<\/p>\n

Having lost two Grand Slam finals last year \u2013 first in Melbourne and then at the French Open \u2013 Sabalenka defended her US Open crown in September and is the heavy favourite to regain her Australian Open title on her most successful surface.<\/p>\n

Sabalenka, who has won 19 of her 22 career titles on hard courts, said: \u201cI think every player, when they get to the tournament, is trophy or nothing.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s always in the back of your mind that, obviously, you want to win it. But I\u2019m trying to focus on the right things and trying my best in each point. That\u2019s my mentality.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aryna Sabalenka won the Australian Open in 2023 and 2024 but lost last year\u2019s final to Madison Keys<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sabalenka\u2019s quarter-final against 18-year-old Jovic was played in intense heat exceeding 40 \u00b0C, with the\u00a0Australian Open\u2019s heat stress scale\u00a0hitting the cut-off mark shortly after the conclusion of their match.<\/p>\n

The roof was closed on Rod Laver Arena as Sabalenka conducted her post-match interview.<\/p>\n

Jovic described Sabalenka, who has worked on controlling her emotions on court to achieve consistency at the sport\u2019s biggest tournaments, as \u201cvery inspiring\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the way she\u2019s been able to use all the negative things that have happened to her and turned them into motivation and fuel to be better is amazing,\u201d Jovic said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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