Things were going well for Coco Gauff in this Australian Open. But when the Melbourne business came to an end, the breaking point of a star athlete was hard to watch.

On January 27, Gauff bowed out of the quarterfinals after a 6-1, 6-2 loss to Elina Svitolina. The loss hit hard, as the star left the ramp with her head low as she walked into the players’ tunnel. Once Gauff was inside, she held out her rackets and smashed them on the ground.

The American was frustrated after struggling on familiar fronts like her serves. She also struggled with her forehand, committed 26 unforced errors, hit only three winners, and served five double faults in just 59 minutes.

To make things worse, the 21-year-old won the past matches with ease. Gauff transitioned into the quarterfinals after her 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 win against Karolina Muchova on the 25^th.

“I tried to go somewhere where they wouldn’t broadcast it, but obviously they did. Maybe some conversations can be had, because I feel like at this tournament, the only private place we have is the locker room,” Gauff said to the reporters. And this is not the first time a player felt this way.

Aryna Sabalenka had the Same Reaction after losing to Coco Gauff in 2023

“I kind of have a thing with the broadcast. I feel like 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”, Guaff said.

Sabalenka broke her racket inside the tunnel after losing to Coco Gauff.

“I needed to throw those negative emotions at the end just so I could give a speech. I was just trying to let it go & be a good person, be respectful,” Sabalenka said to the reporters. And who’d have thought that a couple of years down the line, Guaff would be addressing the same issue.

“I don’t want to lash out on my team. They’re good people. They don’t deserve that, and I know I’m emotional,” said the US Open winner.

“I just took the minute to go and do that. I don’t think it’s a bad thing. I don’t try to do it on court in front of kids and things like that, but I do know I need to let out that emotion,” said Gauff.

Although Guaff has taken her leave for now, it's safe to say she won't let this outburst keep her down.

Written by

Deblina Roy

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi