COCO GAUFF’S AUSTRALIAN OPEN FIREWORKS

Coco Gauff’s 2026 Australian Open run ended in a way nobody expected while the world was watching.

The American tennis star, seeded No. 3, suffered a surprisingly heavy quarterfinal defeat to Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina, losing 6-1, 6-2 in under an hour. Gauff battled through a sloppy day on court, piling up 26 unforced errors, five double faults and only three clean winners.

As Gauff walked away from Rod Laver Arena, she tried to find a spot out of the cameras’ view to punch the ground with her racket. She repeatedly smashed it into a concrete ramp, thinking she was out of sight. But the moment was filmed and broadcast live, quickly going viral across social media.

In the post-match news conference, she didn’t hold back. Gauff said she “tried to go somewhere where there was no cameras,” because she doesn’t like smashing rackets in front of spectators, especially kids, and wanted a private way to release her emotions.

Instead, that moment became a public spectacle, leaving her frustrated not just with her loss but with how much access cameras have to player areas. “Maybe some conversations can be had,” she said, pointing out that the only truly private place at the tournament seems to be the locker room.

Gauff compared her situation to a similar incident involving world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka at the 2023 US Open final, where Sabalenka’s own off-court racket smash was broadcast despite her thinking she was out of view.

Despite the disappointment, Gauff insisted she doesn’t regret letting out her frustration; she just wishes that part of the story wasn’t public. Meanwhile, Svitolina’s big win moves her into the semis, setting up a clash with Sabalenka later in the tournament.

Image credit: The Mirror