So far, the 2026 Australian Open is proving more eventful than an episode of Real Housewives on Bravo. Just days after Naomi Osaka apologised for being “disrespectful” to a fellow player (and later withdrew due to injury), Coco Gauff was caught on camera smashing her tennis racket.
Coco Gauff lost her cool after losing at the Australian Open
Shortly after losing to Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina in the Australian Open quarterfinals, a visibly distressed Coco stepped away to an area she thought was free of cameras. But the moment Coco lost her cool was recorded. She was seen smashing her tennis racket repeatedly on the floor.
Coco’s reaction to losing the game prompted a strong reaction from fans. Some took to social media to show concern for the 21-year-old tennis professional, while others criticised her move.
“Leave her alone. Shes human!” wrote @LaydenRobinson on X. “Coco is a human being,” agreed @andrea9192, adding: “Hopefully she got it out and can move on.”
“Anyone who has played tennis competitively knows that smashing a racquet is just part of the game,” said @FireWagon3. “It can be therapeutic.”
On the flipside, X user @pjenkyns said: “Smashing a tennis racket is so unprofessional because it displays a loss of emotional control.”
“Disgraceful behaviour,” agreed @WelshBullTrader.
As for what Coco had to say about smashing her racket? She answered questions on exactly that during a post-match news conference. “I tried to go somewhere where I thought there wasn’t a camera because I don’t necessarily like breaking rackets,” she said, per NBC News.
“I broke one racket [at the] French Open, I think, and I said I would never do it again on court because I don’t feel like that’s a good representation,” Coco added. She also pointed out that tennis players need more privacy, suggesting that “certain moments” don’t need to be broadcast.
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