MELBOURNE, Australia – Iga Swiatek voiced support for Coco Gauff’s concerns about the camera’s constant gaze on tennis tournaments, calling for more privacy and space for players to do things “without the whole world watching.”
Gauff highlighted the lack of privacy after her crushing off-court frustration went viral following her quarterfinal loss at the Australian Open on Tuesday. She said “conversations can be had” about the seemingly unlimited access certain cameras have, tracking players from the locker room to the field and just about everywhere in between.
Swiatek, who lost 7-5, 6-1 to fifth-seeded Elena Rybakina on Wednesday, was asked what she thought about the lack of off-camera areas for the players and what she thinks about the balance between entertainment and player privacy.
“Yes, the question is: are we tennis players or are we animals in the zoo where they are observed even when they poop, you know?” she said, somewhat apologizing for the last reference. “Okay, sure, that was an exaggeration, but it would be nice to have some privacy.
“It would also be nice to, I don’t know, have your own process and not always be observed.”
Swiatek and Gauff are among the top three players in women’s tennis, so it stands to reason that more attention would be on them during the tournament.
The sight of Swiatek being stopped by security after forgetting her identification became a meme. She has won four French Open titles, as well as Wimbledon and the US Open, but safety is, well, safety.
The off-court CCTV surveillance takes place at other tournaments and is not unique to the Australian Open, where organizers have created a three-week festival around the season opener by incorporating all kinds of fan engagement activities.
The footage from the stadium’s non-public areas isn’t always broadcast, but players don’t need to be reminded that some moments captured appear on the Internet because they’re cute, informative, or downright dramatic.
Swiatek, the world No. 2 player, said there were parts of her game she would like to practice before going out for a match and “it would be nice to have some space where you can do that without the whole world watching.”
She is one of Poland’s best athletes and is fully aware that being in the public eye is an essential part of being a tennis champion.
“We’re tennis players,” she said. “We’re supposed to be watched on the field, you know, and in the press. That’s our job. It’s not our job to be a meme if you forget your accreditation, for example.
“Oh, it’s definitely funny, yeah. People have something to talk about. But for us, I don’t think it’s necessary.”
Gauff, a two-time major winner and the world’s No. 3 player, hit her racket seven times against the concrete floor of a ramp near the players’ area after her loss to Elina Svitolina on Day 10.
Gauff struggled with her serve in the 59-minute match and remained calm as she left center court before trying to find a spot in the shade to vent.
It turned out that there is virtually no room within the confines of Rod Laver Arena, except for the locker rooms, which are beyond the reach of the cameras.
“Certain moments – the same thing happened with Aryna [Sabalenka] after playing her in the US Open final – I feel like they don’t need to broadcast,” Gauff said at her post-match press conference. “I tried to go somewhere where I thought there wasn’t a camera because I don’t necessarily like breaking rackets.”
Gauff said she didn’t want to hit her racket on the court in plain view of fans because she didn’t like the look of it, so she saved it for a quieter area.
“So yeah, maybe some conversations can be had,” she said, “because I feel like during this tournament the only private place we have is the locker room.”
Sixth seed Jessica Pegula, speaking after her straight-set victory over Amanda Anisimova on Wednesday, also supported Gauff, who she said did nothing wrong because it was a “private moment.”
Like Gauff and Swiatek, Pegula was also critical of the cameras that follow players seemingly everywhere.
“Coco wasn’t wrong when she said the only place is the locker room,” Pegula said of player privacy. “We’re on TV on the field, you come in, you’re on TV. Literally the only time you’re not being recorded is when you’re taking a shower and going to the toilet. I think that’s something we definitely need to cut back on.”
Pegula said she hoped Gauff’s viral moment would spark further discussion about the privacy issue.
“It seems to be worse here than other years, so I think it will definitely be talked about now and brought up again in the future,” Pegula said. “It’s very intrusive.”
The Associated Press and ESPN’s Matt Walsh contributed to this report.
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