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American tennis star Coco Gauff smashed her racket several times in the tunnel as she returned to the locker room after a heavy defeat at the Australian Open on Tuesday.
Gauff, seeded No. 3 in the Grand Slam tournament, lost to Elina Svitolina in two sets 6-1, 6-2. Gauff committed five double faults and was 1 for 2 on break points.
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Coco Gauff of the United States reacts during her quarterfinal match against Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina in their quarterfinal match at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Broadcast cameras captured Gauff’s frustrations on his racket. She was outraged by the moment that was shown to the public.
“Some moments – the same thing happened to Aryna (Sabalenka) after I played her in the US Open final – I feel like they don’t need to air them,” Gauff told reporters after the match. “I tried to go somewhere where I thought there wasn’t a camera because I don’t necessarily like breaking rackets.
“I broke a racket (at) the French Open, I think, and I said I’ll never do it on court again because I don’t think it’s a good representation. So, yeah, maybe conversations can be had.”
THE THREE-TIME GRAND Slam WINNER enjoys a beer on court after an emotional Australian Open final
Coco Gauff of the United States reacts during her quarterfinal match against Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina in their quarterfinal match at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
She said it was much better for her to take out her frustrations on the racket than for her support staff.
“They’re good people. They don’t deserve this, and I know I’m emotional,” Gauff said. “So yeah, I just took the time to go out there and do that.
“I don’t think it’s a bad thing. Like I said, I’m not trying to do it on the field in front of kids and things like that, but I know I have to let that emotion out.”
American Coco Gauff leaves the court after her quarterfinal defeat against Ukrainian Elina Svitolina at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, January 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
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Gauff has never won the Australian Open. She reached the semi-finals in 2024. She was ousted in the quarter-finals last year.
