Tim Henman, Laura Robson and Naomi Cavaday have their say after a WTA tournament in Texas unveiled a ‘rage room’ for players to take out their frustrations away from the cameras.
Coco Gauff’s racket-smashing outburst at the Australian Open last month sparked debate about privacy at tournaments.
Shortly after Gauff’s 59-minute quarter-final loss to Elina Svitolina at Melbourne Park, the American went to the match-call area and repeatedly smashed her racket on the ground, unaware that it was being broadcast to viewers around the world.
The ATX Open in Austin, Texas, has come up with a solution.
“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 posted on its social media platforms.
The post also featured a sign with the words “don’t smile” and “count to three” along with a broken racket.
Dubai Tennis Championships organisers set up a ‘Smash Room’ truck for fans, with Chinese player Shang Juncheng invited to try it out in front of the cameras.
“I smashed a few items, including DVDs and big containers,” he 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.”
Shang added that off-court experiences during a tournament can help players “unwind”.
“I think it helps you feel lighter,” Shang said. “As long as you stay in control when you’re playing, it’s a nice way to unwind. I’d never done anything like this before, so it was a great experience.”
Novak Djokovic joked he was ‘surprised we have no cameras while we’re taking a shower’
Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek were among the players calling for more privacy off the court following the Gauff incident.
Djokovic said at the Australian Open that he is “against” players being filmed at every step during tournaments.
“It’s really sad that you can’t move away anywhere and hide and fume out your frustration, your anger, in a way that won’t be captured by a camera,” Djokovic said.
“But we live in a society where content is everything. It’s a deeper discussion. It’s really hard for me to see the trend changing in the opposite direction, meaning we take out cameras.
“It’s only going to be as it is or even more cameras. I’m surprised we have no cameras while we’re taking a shower. That’s probably the next step.
“I’m against it. I think there should be a limit and a borderline where this is our space. You gotta be careful. I remember the time when we didn’t have so many cameras.
“Getting used to having an eye that you don’t hear that you sometimes forget about, always on you, is frightening. At times you wanna relax and be yourself in a sense that you don’t want the public to see.”
Slow walkers would set Robson off…
Coco Gauff repeatedly smashed her racket on the ground at the Australian Open
Sky Sports’ pundits have had their say on the idea with four-time Wimbledon semi-finalist Henman claiming the media drive in revenue, so although the incident with Gauff in Melbourne was regrettable, there are two sides to the coin.
“We’ve all had a moment at a time or a place. It’s a different world that we live in and obviously what happened with Gauff was unfortunate for her, however, the media drive a lot of things in sport,” said Henman.
“They drive in revenues so it was a bit embarrassing and unfortunate that she was upset and no one wants to see that, but when you’re paying for tens and tens of millions of dollars then there has to be two sides of the coin.
“So rage room, no cameras, private space, I like it.
“I could remember a few times when you break a racket after the match but it was a different era. Wooden rackets break a lot easier.”
Laura Robson thinks the idea of smashing your racket in private is a ‘good idea’
Former British No 1 Robson said: “It’s fantastic! It really made me laugh, especially in Australia where players have no privacy to go and break their racket, so now they’ve got the perfect opportunity to go in and break as many rackets as they want to, shout as much as they want to, and just let it all out.”
But what would set Robson off? “Slow walkers for me! That is my number one pet peeve,” she quipped.
Commentator Naomi Cavaday added: “For players to have somewhere private to go after losses is definitely a good thing for them. To be able and just go and have a bit of peace and quiet, but I was never one to be filled with rage.”
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