Coco Gauff has hinted at the possibility of discussing her actions after being filmed smashing her racket following her elimination from the Australian Open. The third seed faced a tough 6-1 6-2 loss to Elina Svitolina in the quarter-finals, lasting under an hour, and sought a secluded area off-court to express her frustrations in private.
Despite her efforts to keep the moment private, footage of Gauff breaking her racket on the ground circulated rapidly, prompting the young tennis star to question the intrusion into players’ personal moments at major tournaments.
Gauff expressed her discomfort with the broadcast of such incidents, citing a previous experience after a match at the US Open. She emphasized her attempt to find a camera-free space to release her emotions, unaware that she was being recorded. Gauff hopes for more privacy in similar situations going forward.
The incident provided Gauff with a chance to release her pent-up emotions before reuniting with her team. She acknowledged that the act helped her process the defeat without taking out her frustrations on her support system, recognizing the importance of managing her emotions constructively.
Known for her resilience, Gauff struggled to recover after Svitolina gained an early advantage and acknowledged her opponent’s role in disrupting her usual gameplay. Despite her usual ability to push back in challenging situations, Gauff admitted that her performance fell short that day due to various factors affecting her game.
Gauff’s openness about the incident sheds light on the pressures athletes face and the importance of managing emotions effectively in competitive environments.