MELBOURNE, Jan 28 (Reuters) - World number two Iga Swiatek joined a growing chorus of players demanding more privacy off the courts at the Australian Open after cameras captured Coco Gauff in a post-match meltdown that the American said should have been a personal moment.
The incident occurred after Gauff's 59-minute quarter-final defeat by Elina Svitolina, when the American retreated behind a wall near the match call area deep in the bowels of the stadium to repeatedly smash her racquet on the ground.
Unbeknownst to the third seed, cameras recorded her every move and the video was broadcast to viewers around the world, with Gauff saying she was unhappy that there was no privacy anywhere except the locker room.
"The question is, are we tennis players or are we animals in the zoo, where they are observed even when they poop?" Swiatek told reporters after she lost 7-5 6-1 to Elena Rybakina in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
"Okay, that was exaggerating obviously, but it would be nice to have some privacy. It would be nice also to have your own process and not always be observed."
American Amanda Anisimova also said she knew players did not have much privacy at Melbourne Park, adding that she "kept my head down" until she reached the locker room.
"There are good moments obviously that people see and that's fun. Then, when you lose, there are probably not-so-good moments," Anisimova said.
"The video of Coco that was posted, it's tough, because she didn't have a say in that."
STARK CONTRAST TO OTHER MAJORS
Top players are finding themselves under constant surveillance, with Swiatek highlighting the stark contrast between tournaments.
Swiatek, who also went viral in a clip when she was not allowed inside the venue after forgetting her accreditation, noted that other Grand Slams like the French Open and Wimbledon provide sanctuary areas off-limits to cameras and fans.
"There are some spaces that you can at least go when you need to. But there are some tournaments where it's impossible and you are constantly observed, if not by the fans ... then by the cameras," she said.
"For sure, it's not simple. I don't think it should be like that because we're tennis players. We're meant to be watched on the court and in the press."
"It's not our job (to) be a meme when you forget your accreditation. Oh, it's funny, for sure. People have something to talk about, but for us I don't think it's necessary."
When asked whether she had spoken to the tournament's organisers about the subject, Swiatek shrugged and said: "What's the point?"
(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Sonali Paul)
