Archive January 27, 2026

After being caught smashing a racquet by Elina Svitolina in the Australian Open quarter-finals, Coco Gauff demanded more privacy for players.

In a 6-1, 6-2 defeat that lasted only 59 minutes, a despondent Gauff, 21, served five double-feasances, committed 26 unforced errors, and only allowed three winners.

The American was captured by the behind-the-scenes coverage of the tournament in the players’ area, with the footage being broadcast on TV and social media. He did not attempt to smash the racquet on the court.

Gauff claimed that she had made an effort to keep her feelings a secret until she was no longer visible.

She made reference to a similar incident at the US Open in 2023, when Gauff was filmed crashing her racquet.

Gauff remarked, “I tried going somewhere without cameras.”

There are instances where Aryna experienced the same thing after I played her in the US Open final, and I don’t think it needs to be broadcast.

I believe there should be some conversation because the locker room is the only private space available for us to use up our space during this tournament.

Gauff questioned why she felt the need to smash her racquet in the aftermath, explaining, “I don’t want to lash out on my team.” That is not their duty.

“I don’t believe it to be bad.” I make an effort not to do it in front of kids or other similar situations, but I do know I need to let out that emotion.

Players need privacy during emotionally taxing matches, according to former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash.

On BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, he said, “Players need to have quiet areas because there are cameras absolutely everywhere.”

A well-known tennis player only has access to their hotel room, according to the article.

“Players have to be in the locker room and their hotel room to have any sort of privacy,” the statement goes.

Gauff had won back-to-back three sets to advance to the quarter-finals, but she was unable to hold onto her position against Svitolina.

The Ukrainian 12th seed reached her first semi-final with six of her seven break point chances.

Gauff has made a concerted effort to improve her serve after using biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan, who previously assisted Sabalenka, in a tour-leading 431 double faults last season, which is 131 more than any other player.

After overtaking rising American star Jovic, Sabalenka, the 2023 and 2024 winner, said her attitude is “trophy or nothing.”

The 27-year-old Belarusian has reached the semi-finals of 14 of her previous 17 majors, where she has won 5-1 head-to-head against Svitolina.

After Lindsay Davenport and Martina Hingis, she is the only woman’s player to reach eight straight Grand Slam semi-finals, making it just the third time in the last 38 years.

Sabalenka’s winning streak to 10 matches and 20 straight sets has grown to 10 straight sets since the start of 2026 as she advances to this year’s semi-finals at Melbourne Park.

Sabalenka, who won her first Grand Slam title on her most successful surface last year, won the first two in Melbourne and the second in Paris. She is the heavy favorite to defend her US Open title in September.

When a player enters the tournament, Sabalenka, who has won 19 of her 22 career titles on hard courts, considers themselves trophy-winners.

Sabalenka conducted her post-match interview at Rod Laver Arena, and the roof was closed.

Sabalenka, who has worked to maintain consistency on the court throughout the sport’s biggest tournaments, was described as “very inspiring.”

Coco Gauff called for more privacy for players after she was captured smashing a racquet following a devastating defeat by Elina Svitolina in the Australian Open quarter-finals.

A despondent Gauff, 21, served five double faults, made 26 unforced errors and hit just three winners in a 6-1 6-2 loss that took just 59 minutes.

The American did not smash the racquet on court but was filmed by the tournament’s behind-the-scenes coverage in the players’ area, with the footage broadcast on TV and social media.

Gauff said she had made a conscious effort to suppress her emotions until she was away from public view.

She referenced a similar incident at the 2023 US Open, when Aryna Sabalenka was captured smashing her racquet after losing the final to Gauff.

“I tried to go somewhere where there was no cameras,” said Gauff.

“Certain moments – the same thing happened to Aryna after I played her in the US Open final – I feel like they don’t need to broadcast.

“Maybe some conversations can be had, because I feel like, at this tournament, the only private place we have is the locker room.”

On why she felt the need to smash her racquet in the aftermath, Gauff said: “I don’t want to lash out on my team. They don’t deserve that.

“I don’t think it’s a bad thing. I try not to do it on court in front of kids and things like that, but I do know I need to let out that emotion.”

Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash said players need privacy during an emotionally taxing tournament.

“There are cameras absolutely everywhere and players need to have quiet areas,” he said on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra.

“That’s the only sanctuary a well-known tennis player really gets other than their hotel room.

“Players have got to be in the locker room and their hotel room to have any sort of privacy – that’s not really right.”

Gauff had demonstrated her resilience with back-to-back three-set wins to reach the quarter-finals, but she was never able to gain a foothold against Svitolina.

The Ukrainian 12th seed was ruthless, taking six of her seven break point opportunities to reach a first Australian Open semi-final.

Having made a tour-leading 431 double faults last season – 131 more than any other player – Gauff has made a concerted effort to improve her serve, hiring biomechanics specialist Gavin MacMillan, who previously helped Sabalenka.

Sabalenka, the 2023 and 2024 winner, said her mentality is “trophy or nothing” after overpowering rising American star Jovic.

The 27-year-old Belarusian, who has a favourable 5-1 head-to-head record against Svitolina, has now made the semi-final stage at 14 of the past 17 majors she has contested.

She has become only the third women’s player to reach eight consecutive singles semi-finals at Grand Slams in the past 38 years, after Lindsay Davenport and Martina Hingis.

Sabalenka has reached this year’s semi-finals at Melbourne Park without dropping a set, taking her winning streak at the start of 2026 to 10 matches and 20 consecutive sets.

Having lost two Grand Slam finals last year – first in Melbourne and then at the French Open – Sabalenka defended her US Open crown in September and is the heavy favourite to regain her Australian Open title on her most successful surface.

Sabalenka, who has won 19 of her 22 career titles on hard courts, said: “I think every player, when they get to the tournament, is trophy or nothing.

Sabalenka’s quarter-final against 18-year-old Jovic was played in intense heat exceeding 40C, with the Australian Open’s heat stress scale hitting the cut-off mark shortly after the conclusion of their match.

The roof was closed on Rod Laver Arena as Sabalenka conducted her post-match interview.

Jovic described Sabalenka, who has worked on controlling her emotions on court to achieve consistency at the sport’s biggest tournaments, as “very inspiring”.

Jamie George, a club and country team-mate, predicts that as Maro Itoje’s mother passes away, England will unite around the captain.

Itoje traveled to Nigeria for the funeral, so he missed the Six Nations launch event in Edinburgh on Monday.

Following a few weeks of lung cancer diagnosis, George’s own mother passed away during the 2024 Six Nations.

The British and Irish Lions have toured with him three times and he said, “I’ve been through it myself.”

“It’s a very difficult time for him and his family,” he said.

He has carried himself in such a remarkable way over the past few months. The key is that he has had enough space to grieve and mourn.

“It has been incredible how he has consistently shown up and put the team first.”

At the end of the Saracens’ season or, if chosen, once England’s Rugby World Cup campaign is over, George, 35, has made a statement that he intends to retire from the sport in 2027.

You never know when your final game will be, he continued, “I’m hoping to be to play a part in next year’s Six Nations.”

“I’ll set that date, I’ll probably finish,” I thought.

“Every moment of my playing for England has been one that I’ve always enjoyed, and it just reinforces how much I need to embrace every aspect of it, whether it be good or bad, or the ugly.”