Are tennis players treated like zoo animals? Iga Świątek thinks so
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Iga Świątek echoed a theme Coco Gauff left the Australian Open with after the 21-year-old American’s moments of racket and frustration off the court went viral.
Gauff said “a discussion needs to be had” about seemingly unlimited-access cameras in all areas that follow players from the locker room to the field and pretty much everywhere in between.
Announcement
After her 7-5, 6-1 quarterfinal loss to fifth-seeded Elena Rybakina on Wednesday, Świątek was asked how she feels about the lack of off-camera areas for players and what she thinks the balance should be between entertainment, consistent content and player privacy.
“Yeah, the question is, are we tennis players or are we, like, zoo animals where they get watched even when they poop, you know?” he said, apologizing slightly for this last reference. “OK, obviously that was over the top, but it would be nice to have some privacy.
“It would also be nice to, I don’t know, have your own process and not always be watched.”
Świątek and Gauff are two of the three best players in women’s tennis, so it stands to reason that they will be more of the center of attention at the tournament.
Announcement
The sight of Świątek being stopped by security after forgetting his credentials became a meme. He won four titles at the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. But safety is, well, safety.
Fan involvement is encouraged
Off-court camera surveillance happens at other tournaments too and is not limited to the Australian Open, where organizers have created a three-week festival around the season-opening major, incorporating all manner of fan engagement activities.
Viewing from non-public areas of the stadium isn’t always broadcast, but players don’t need to be reminded that some captured moments will appear on the Internet to be cute, informative, or just downright dramatic.
Announcement
Świątek, ranked No. 2, said there are parts of her game she would like to practice immediately before going out for a match and “it would be nice to have a little bit of space where you can do that without the whole world watching you.”
The 24-year-old is one of Poland’s star athletes and is fully aware that being in the public eye is an integral part of being a tennis champion.
“We’re tennis players. We’re meant to be watched on the court, you know, and in the press. That’s our job,” he said. “It’s not our job, for example, to be a meme when you forget your accreditation.
“Oh, it’s fun, yeah, sure. People have something to talk about. But for us I don’t think it’s necessary.”
Announcement
Gauff’s racket
Gauff, ranked No. 3 and a two-time major winner, smashed her racket on the concrete floor of a ramp near the players’ area seven times after her Australian Open quarterfinal loss to Elina Svitolina on Day 10.
She struggled with her serve throughout the 59-minute match and remained composed as she left center court before seeking a place in the shadows to let off steam.
It turns out there is virtually nowhere within the confines of Rod Laver Arena except for the locker rooms which are beyond the reach of the cameras.
“Certain moments — the same thing happened to Aryna (Sabalenka) after playing her in the US Open final — I feel like they don’t need to be broadcast,” Gauff said in her post-match news conference. “I tried to go somewhere where I thought there wasn’t a camera because I don’t necessarily like breaking rackets.”
Announcement
He said he didn’t want to smash his racket on the court in full view of the fans because he didn’t think it looked good, which is why he kept it in a quieter area.
“So yeah, maybe we could have some conversations,” he said, “because I feel like in this tournament the only private place we have is the locker room.”
___
More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis