Are we animals in the zoo? Privacy controversy erupts at Australian Open

This year’s Australian Open is setting itself up to be remembered more for off-court controversies than on-court drama.

Just two days back, the Whoop fitness band issue involving top players like Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka made the headlines.

And on Wednesday, Iga Swiatek picked up a theme that Coco Gauff left the Australian Open with after the 21-year-old American's racket-smashing, frustration-releasing moments away from the court went viral.

Gauff said "maybe conversations can be had" about the seemingly limitless access-all-areas cameras that track players from the locker room to the court and just about everywhere in between.

No 3-ranked Gauff, a two-time major winner, smashed her racket into the concrete floor of a ramp near the player area seven times after her Australian Open quarterfinal loss to Elina Svitolina on Day 10.

"Certain moments – the same thing happened to Aryna (Sabalenka) after I played her in the final of the US Open – I feel like they don't need to 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."

Gauff said she didn't want to smash her racket on the court within sight of fans, which is why she saved it for a quieter area.

"So, yeah, maybe some conversations can be had," she said, "because I feel like at this tournament the only private place we have is the locker room."

After her 7-5, 6-1 quarterfinal loss to fifth-seeded Elena Rybakina on Wednesday, Swiatek was asked how she feels about the lack of off-camera areas for the players and what she thinks should be the balance between constant content and player privacy.

"Yeah, the question is, are we tennis players, or are we, like, animals in the zoo where they are observed even when they p**p, you know?" she said, apologizing for the latter reference. "OK, that was exaggerating obviously, but it would be nice to have some privacy."

Visions of Swiatek being stopped by security after forgetting her credential became a meme during the tournament.

She said there were parts of her game she'd like to practice immediately before walking out for a match and "it would be nice to have some space where you can do that without the whole world watching."

"We're tennis players. We're meant to be watched on the court, you know, and in the press. That's our job," she said. "It's not our job, like, be a meme when you forget your accreditation."

Novak Djokovic, the 24-time major winner, remembers the time before the omnipresent cameras, and preferred it. But he thinks there'll be no winding it back.

"I saw what happened with Coco after her match. I empathize with her," Djokovic said. "I agree with her. You know, it's really sad that you can't basically move away anywhere and hide and . . . fume out your frustration in a way that won't be captured by a camera.

"But we live in a society and in times where content is everything, so it's a deeper discussion. It's really hard for me to see that that's going (to go) backward. It's just something that I guess we have to accept."

Djokovic made a crack about the sanctity of the locker room, which is still off-limits to TV.

"I'm surprised that we have no cameras while we are taking a shower!" he said. "I mean, that's probably the next step."