Coco Gauff says Australian Open did not apologise over racket-smash clip

Coco Gauff said she did not receive an apology or response from the Australian Open after footage of her breaking a racket in a private area was broadcast worldwide following her quarter-final loss. She noted she received something from the WTA but not from the grand slam itself, and she said the WTA’s message was different from what the slams would provide. She began her French Open title defense as the fourth seed with a 6-4, 6-0 first-round win over Taylor Townsend. She said the French Open does a good job with cameras and that her personal emotional moments in private spaces have not been broadcast. Tournament director Amelie Mauresmo said no additional cameras would be added to private player areas, and camera-free spaces would remain for players to relax away from public view.

"I didn't get anything from my email that I know of, Gauff said, smiling. I know that WTA sent something, but obviously they're different from the grand slams, just them wanting to reiterate and that they are going to talk to the slams about different private areas and things like that. Gauff was speaking after beginning her title defence at the French Open as the fourth seed with an assured 6-4, 6-0 first-round win over her American compatriot Taylor Townsend."

"Footage of Gauff smashing her racket in an underground corridor was broadcast worldwide, leading to numerous players speaking out about the lack of privacy they felt in Melbourne. This issue was topical again in the buildup to the French Open, with the tournament director, Amelie Mauresmo, saying the event would not add any additional cameras to private player areas even though broadcasters have pushed for greater video access. There will continue to be camera-free areas for players to relax away from the glare of the public eye."

"I feel like the French Open does a really good job with the cameras, said Gauff. I haven't had any experiences where they broadcasted something, an emotional moment or anything like that. I pray before my matches, and we usually do it in the gym, and they have never broadcasted that. I'm sure I have been crying in that gym before and they've never broadcasted that. I haven't broken a racket here, so maybe if I do that, they'll show it. But, no, I think Roland Garros, from my personal experience, has done a decent job with that."

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