Tennis legend Serena Williams publicly defended Coco Gauff following the young US star's viral racket-smashing moment at the Australian Open, offering support and advice to the world No. 3.
After Gauff suffered a 6-1, 6-2 quarterfinal loss to Elina Svitolina in just 59 minutes on Tuesday, cameras captured her smashing her racket in frustration while walking through the Rod Laver Arena tunnel. The 21-year-old had intentionally left the court hoping to avoid public view, but the TV broadcast chose to air the moment live.
Serena Williams quickly came to Gauff's defense on social media, echoing sentiments shared by her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. The 44-year-old assured Gauff that passion and caring matter, and there's nothing wrong with hating to lose.
Serena Williams then playfully offered to teach Gauff how to demolish a racket in one swing, referencing her own history with similar outbursts during her legendary career.
Gauff responded to the criticism by emphasizing she deliberately avoids breaking rackets on court and only did so in what she believed was a private space. She called for increased privacy for players, noting that the locker room serves as the Melbourne tournament's only truly private area.
Williams faced similar scrutiny throughout her decorated career, garnering attention for emotional displays including racket-smashing incidents resulting in fines. Despite occasional controversies, she became one of the greatest athletes of all time, winning 23 Grand Slam singles titles and holding the No. 1 ranking for 186 consecutive weeks.
Jessica Pegula and Iga Świątek also voiced support for Gauff, agreeing that cameras have become too intrusive at tournaments. The incident subsequently sparked broader conversations about player privacy and mental health in professional tennis.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka continued her 2026 Australian Open title campaign early Tuesday, defeating 18-year-old US tennis star Iva Jović 6-2, 6-3.
The victory advances the 27-year-old to the Grand Slam's semifinals. There she remains the favorite after several top seeds — including No. 3 Coco Gauff and defending champion Madison Keys — fell in earlier rounds.
In the quarterfinal match, Sabalenka used her trademark power to overwhelm her teenage opponent. The Belarusian broke started strong and maintained a high level of aggression throughout. Playing in her first career Grand Slam quarterfinal, Jović struggled to find an answer for the veteran's depth and velocity.
"The second set, I felt like I had to step in and put even more pressure on her," Sabalenka said postmatch. "Because I can see that she's young, she's hungry, and I could tell during the match that no matter the score, she's still going to be there trying."
"These teenagers have tested me in the last couple of rounds — incredible player," she continued, singing Jović's praises. "It was a tough match. Don't look at the score. She played incredible tennis and she pushed me to a one-step better level. It was a battle."
Sabalenka now prepares for a semifinal matchup against Ukraine’s No. 12 Elina Svitolina. Svitolina advanced earlier on Tuesday after defeating Coco Gauff in straight sets. Sabalenka holds a 5-1 head-to-head advantage over Svitolina, and has yes to drop a set this tournament.
With Madison Keys out of the draw, Sabalenka remains the only former Australian Open champion remaining in the women's singles bracket.
How to watch Aryna Sabalenka in the Australian Open semifinals
The Australian Open semifinals kick off tomorrow, as Sabalenka takes on Svitolina live on ESPN (timing TBD).
US tennis star Coco Gauff called for increased player privacy after cameras captured her smashing her racket following her quarterfinal exit from the 2026 Australian Open.
World No. 2 Coco Gauff suffered a 6-1, 6-2 defeat to Ukraine’s No. 12 Elina Svitolina in Tuesday’s fourth-round match. The clash lasted 59 minutes, with Gauff struggling to find her rhythm throughout the contest. The 21-year-old finished with just three winners while racking up 26 unforced errors and serving five double-faults.
Following the loss, Gauff attempted to find a secluded area to vent her frustrations. Tournament cameras followed her, filming as she repeatedly smashed her racket on the ground. The footage spread quickly across social media.
Addressing the incident afterward, Coco Gauff argued that such raw, emotional moments should not be treated as public entertainment.
"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," Gauff said, referencing No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka's post-2023 US Open meltdown.
"So maybe some conversations can be had. Because I feel like, at this tournament, the only private place we have is the locker room."
Gauff explained that she avoids lashing out in front of fans, saying some things should remain off-limits to broadcasters.
"I know I’m emotional, so I just took the minute to go and do that," she continued. "I try not to do it on-court in front of kids and things like that. But I do know I need to let out that emotion."
Despite her technical struggles, Coco Gauff remained focused on the future. She stressed scrapping out wins on bad days, citing US tennis icon Serena Williams as inspiration when handling difficult matches.
Meanwhile, Svitolina moves on to face Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals.
What's next for Coco Gauff after her 2026 Australian Open ousting
The WTA Calendar next turns to the Middle East Swing, with Gauff expected to join the field at the 2026 Qatar Open.
The WTA 1000 Doha tournament starts February 8th, live on Tennis Channel.