Coco Gauff’s racket bore the brunt of her frustrations.
The world No. 3 repeatedly smashed her racket inside Rod Laver Arena in a stunning scene captured after her loss to Elina Svitolina in the Australian Open quarterfinal Tuesday morning.
Goff fell 6-1, 6-2 to the World No. 12, committing five double faults and did not appreciate that the world saw her outburst.
“I tried to go somewhere where there was no cameras. I have a thing with the brodcast, I felt like certain moments — the same thing happened to Aryna (Sabalenka) after I played her in the final of the U.S. Open — I feel like they don’t need to broadcast,” said Gauff, who added that she vowed never to react ilke that on the court again after doing so in a previous French Open. “I tried to go somewhere where I thought there wasn’t a camera because I don’t necessarily like breaking rackets…
“Maybe some conversations can be had because I feel like at this tournament, the only private place we have is the locker room.”
Gauff, 21, entered this tournament in search of her third Grand Slam, but she felt she did not do the things that she usually does well.
Svitolina soundly edged her in service points, 29-15, and also collected four aces.
This setback marked the second straight quarterfinal exit for Gauff in Australia, whose best showing in the tournament came in 2024 when she reached the semifinals.
Svitolina next faces top-ranked Sabalenka in the semifinals Thursday.
“She played really well,” Gauff said. “And unfortunately, usually when people raise their level I’m able to raise mine and today I didn’t do that. So, I have to figure out how to not to do that again.”
The post-match clip that went viral showed a dejected Gauff in the hallway before she approached a ramp and then slammed the racket to the ground seven times.
Gauff said she would rather release her frustration that way versus taking it out on her team.
“For me, I know myself and I don’t want to lash out at my team, they’re good people, they don’t deserve that, and I know I’m emotional,” Gauff said. “I just took the minute to go and do that.
“I don’t think it’s a bad thing. I don’t try to do it on court in front of kids and things like that, but I do know I need to let out that emotion otherwise I’m just going to be snappy with the people around me and I don’t want to do that.”
