US tennis tournament sets up ‘rage room’ for players to let off steam amid calls for more privacy
Players have called for more privacy away from the court after Coco Gauff was filmed smashing her racket following her Australian Open loss last month
A WTA tournament in Texas has introduced a novel solution for player frustration, unveiling a "rage room" designed to offer a private outlet away from the cameras.
This initiative follows a debate ignited last month when Coco Gauff's racket-smashing outburst at the Australian Open was unexpectedly broadcast worldwide.
Shortly after her 59-minute quarter-final defeat by Elina Svitolina at Melbourne Park, the American player repeatedly smashed her racket in the match call area, unaware that the moment was being aired to viewers globally.
The incident prompted calls for greater off-court privacy from prominent figures such as Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek.
Swiatek was particularly vocal with her criticizm, as the former World No 1 compared the treatment of players to zoo animals.
“The question is, are we tennis players, or are we animals in the zoo where they are observed even when they poop, you know?’ she asked, following her own quarter-final exit at the Australian Open.
In response, the ATX Open in Austin, Texas, has launched what it describes as a pioneering facility.
"Introducing the ATX Open rage room - the first of its kind - where players can privately express frustration or emotion in a safe, camera-free environment," the WTA 250 tournament announced across its social media platforms.
The post also featured an image of a broken racket alongside a sign bearing the instructions "don't smile" and "count to three".
While the online reaction to the ATX Open's innovation has been largely positive, some observers have questioned whether such a room might inadvertently encourage players to vent their frustrations physically.
Meanwhile, organisers of the Dubai Tennis Championships have set up a "Smash Room" truck for fans this week, with Chinese player Shang Juncheng invited to experience it in front of cameras.
"I smashed a few items, including DVDs and big containers," Shang said. "It's loud and it's intense but in a good way. You get everything out of your system in there instead of taking that frustration onto the court."
