American star Coco Gauff vented her frustrations Tuesday by repeatedly smashing her racket into a concrete floor after her 6-1, 6-2 loss to Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina in the 2026 Australian Open quarterfinal. However, the two-time major winner had no idea that her actions were being recorded in a ramp backstage at the Rod Laver Arena.
When Gauff addressed the media after her loss, she expressed shock that a clip of her post-match frustrations had gone viral. She proceeded to blast the organizers of the Australian Open for not affording her any privacy.
“I tried to go somewhere where there were no cameras,” Gauff said, via The Guardian. “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.”
Coco Gauff Racket Throwing Drama
Gauff, who committed a staggering 431 double-faults in the 2025 season, once again struggled with her service game, as she recorded five double-faults in the first set, when she was broken four times. Clearly, her frustrations got the better of her.
“I tried to go somewhere where they wouldn’t broadcast it, but obviously they did,” lamented the World No. 3. “Maybe some conversations can be had, because I feel like at this tournament the only private place we have is the locker room.”
Iga Swiatek — who also lost her Australian Open quarterfinal on Tuesday — backed Gauff’s concerns about the lack of privacy at the first major of the season.
“The question is, are we tennis players, or are we animals in the zoo where they are observed even when they poop?” asked the Pole, who was also caught on camera for forgetting her accreditation in a viral clip, via The Guardian.
“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.”
Australian Open 2026 Reaches Business End
Fellow American star Amanda Anisimova and tennis legend Serena Williams also voiced their support for Gauff after her viral racket-throwing video caused an uproar.
“There are good moments, obviously, that people see, and that’s fun,” said Anisimova, who lost her Australian Open QF to fellow American Jessica Pegula on Wednesday.
“Then, when you lose, there are probably not-so-good moments. I think the fact that the video of Coco was posted, it’s tough, because she didn’t have a say in that.”
Williams felt that Gauff’s frustrations showed how much she cares about winning.
“Passion. Caring. Matters,” Williams said of the Gauff video. “Nothing wrong with hating to lose. Now Coco when you want I can show you how to demolish in one swipe… Serena style.”
The 2026 Australian Open semifinals are now set — Aryna Sabalenka versus Svitolina and Pegula versus Elena Rybakina. World No. 1 Sabalenka, who has yet to drop a set in the tournament, is on a mission to avenge her upset loss to Madison Keys in last year’s final.
Iga Swiatek Has Strong Reaction to Coco Gauff Racket Controversy