The 2026 Australian Open faced massive criticism on Tuesday, January 27, after a video of Coco Gauff went viral on social media. After her quarterfinal match against Elina Svitolina, the American took out her frustration on her racket, thinking that she was off the cameras. However, footage from the security cameras was circulated all over the internet, which Gauff mentioned during her press conference.
Now, Gauff’s former coach, Brad Gilbert, has expressed his feelings on the incident, criticising the Australian Open for invading her privacy.
Brad Gilbert Lashes Out at Australian Open After Coco Gauff’s Off-Court Video Goes Viral
After the shocking loss at the 2026 Australian Open quarterfinals against Ukraine’s Svitolina, Gauff went off-court to vent out her frustration, smashing her racket multiple times on the ground.
She wasn’t aware that there were security cameras at that location, capturing the American’s post-match act. During her press-conference, she explained that she does not like doing such activities on court, stating that it does not feel like a good presentation in front of the world.
She felt like there was no private space for her after the match; she was on camera the entire time, and the only safe space for her was the locker room. This raised several questions on the Australian Open broadcast, following players even after they go off the courts. Now, Gauff’s former coach, Gilbert, reacted to this incident, sharing his feelings.
Replying to an X post which mentioned the same incident, the ESPN analyst wrote,
“1000% disappointing that this happens to the players, when they think 🤔 they are in safe space, like a casino 🎰 camera above you.”
1000% disappointing that this happens to the players, when they think 🤔 they are in safe space, like a casino 🎰 camera above you
— Brad Gilbert (@bgtennisnation) January 27, 2026
Gilbert’s words perfectly captured what Gauff was feeling, having no private space at such a prestigious tournament after facing such a heartbreaking loss. She entered the match as the clear favorite against the Ukrainian, with over 67% chances of advancing to the semifinals, yet she faced a devastating 1-6, 2-6 loss in just 59 minutes.
Gauff’s Australian Open Nightmare Against Elina Svitolina
The meltdown from the American after the match was justified if we take a look at the statistics from the match. She struggled in her serves, committing five double faults during the match, along with 26 unforced errors.
She couldn’t land a single ace and only hit three winners during the entire match, while only winning 41% of her first serve points. This performance by the WTA World No. 3 was totally different from her potential, which has led her to two Grand Slam titles.
MORE: Shocking Scenes as Coco Gauff Spotted Angrily Smashing Racket After Australian Open Crashout
Svitolina, on the other hand, played her best tennis today, dominating the match from the beginning. She landed 4 aces without committing a single double fault, and also won 70% of her first serve points. She hit 12 winners during the match, only committing 16 unforced errors, and won 80% of the total points to finish the match under an hour.
Now, the Ukrainian faces probably the toughest test of her campaign so far, with the World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka waiting for her on the other side of the court. Last year’s finalist is the clear favorite in this matchup, with over 80% chances of advancing to yet another final. However, given Svitolina’s unpredictability, the match promises to produce another intriguing encounter as the 2026 Australian Open nears its end.
