She was brimming with frustration. Swept by Elina Svitolina this Tuesday in the quarter-final of the Australian Open (6-1, 6-2), Coco Gauff was dispatched in 59 minutes. Appearing lost on the Rod Laver Arena, the third player in the world was never able to adapt to the infernal pace imposed by her Ukrainian rival.
So, to let her rage explode, the double Grand Slam winner waited to leave the court. Thinking she was away from the cameras, the American literally smashed her racket behind the scenes of the enclosure. Unfortunately for her, her tantrum was filmed and broadcast on television.
A scene reminiscent of Aryna Sabalenka’s anger at the end of the 2023 US Open final. Beaten by Coco Gauff, the Belarusian slipped away to explode her racket before the trophy ceremony, without managing to escape the cameras.
“I don’t necessarily like breaking rackets”
“I have a little problem with the images of the tournament,” confided the Floridian at a press conference. « I tried to go to a place where I thought there was no camera (…) I think they don’t need to broadcast that, because I don’t necessarily like breaking rackets. I broke one in the quarter-finals or in the round of 16 at Roland Garros, and I said I would never do it again on the court, because I don’t think it gives a good image,” she conceded, regretting a lack of privacy.
“I tried to go to a place where they wouldn’t broadcast it, but they obviously did. Maybe we should discuss this, because I feel like in this tournament the only private place we have is the locker room. »
Eliminated at the quarter-final stage for the second consecutive time in Melbourne, Gauff will have to wait to lift the Australian trophy, one of the two Grand Slams missing from her record with Wimbledon.
 "Swedish Club Targets Sporting CP Wonderkid")