The words were strong. This Wednesday, following her defeat in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open against Elena Rybakina, Iga Swiatek made a serious rant at a press conference. “Are we tennis players or are we more like animals in a zoo that we observe even when they poop? » she asked.
The Pole was responding to a question about the lack of privacy during the Australian Grand Slam. Cameras now abound in every corner of the stadium, which allows the organization and broadcasters to bring out some juicy moments on social networks. A practice to increase the visibility of the tournament but which does not please the athletes. “It would be nice to have a little privacy,” asserted Swiatek.
“Players deserve spaces outside of competition”
This Thursday, the WTA, the body which governs women’s tennis, expressed its compassion towards its player. “The WTA supports our players and understands their concerns about privacy and cameras at the Australian Open. Players deserve spaces outside of competition where they can recover in private,” she wrote.
“At WTA events (which are not the Grand Slams, organized by the ITF, the international federation), we have already reduced the presence of cameras outside the courts to ensure that players benefit from appropriate private spaces,” the press release continues. We believed that this issue needs to be reviewed by tournament organizers and broadcast partners. We are going to start a dialogue with the players and the tournaments.”
