Austin WTA tournament sets up ‘rage room’ for players to blow off steam

2026-02-26 - 08:33

American Coco Gauff drops her racket as she plays during the women’s singles match at the Australian Open in Melbourne. (AFP pic) TEXAS: A WTA tournament in Texas has unveiled a “rage room” for players to take out their frustrations away from the cameras after 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. Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek were among the players calling for more privacy off the court following the incident. 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.