The three remaining Grand Slams in 2026 are putting measures in place to placate tennis stars’ privacy concerns following a series of complaints at January’s Australian Open.
The French Open tournament director, Amélie Mauresmo, stressed her commitment to “maintain(ing) the respect for their privacy” in a news conference Thursday, and spokespeople for Wimbledon and the U.S. Open have detailed similar plans for the coming summer.
In a virtual news conference Thursday, Mauresmo said that the French Open will not add more cameras in behind-the-scenes areas, despite broadcasters seeking more access to players.
A spokesperson for Wimbledon said via email that the tournament will review all footage captured before transmitting it, as well as communicating which areas will be under media surveillance ahead of time to avoid players being caught out in areas that they believe to be safe havens.
This is what led Coco Gauff to take umbrage with the Australian Open in January, after she was caught on camera smashing a racket seven times in an area she believed to be free of them, following her quarterfinal loss to Elina Svitolina.
During a news conference, Gauff said: “Maybe some conversations can be had, because I feel like at this tournament the only private place we have is the locker room.
“I kind of have a thing with the broadcast. I feel like certain moments don’t need to broadcast.”
In a news conference a day later, Iga Świątek asked “are we tennis players, or are we animals in the zoo?” In another, Novak Djokovic said that he “was surprised that we have no cameras while we are taking a shower.”
Leading American players Jessica Pegula and Amanda Anisimova also made critical comments. A Tennis Australia spokesperson said that “striking the right balance between showcasing the personalities and skills of the players, while ensuring their comfort and privacy, is a priority for the AO.”
A spokesperson was not immediately available for comment on whether there will be privacy changes for the 2027 edition.
Gauff also compared her situation in Melbourne to that of Aryna Sabalenka at the 2023 U.S. Open. After Gauff beat Sabalenka in that year’s final, Sabalenka smashed a racket four times in a backstage area before putting it in a bin. She too did not expect there to be footage of the incident.
A United States Tennis Association (USTA) spokesperson Brendan McIntyre said Sunday via email that the 2026 tournament “will have areas that are designated as no camera access, to ensure players have private spaces.” These could include player dining and lounge areas.
“The only time we would change access would be with prior permission and coordination — an example here would be the potential for a camera in the locker room for a player celebration following a championship match,” McIntyre said, adding that all areas with cameras will be clearly signposted and that television rights-holders will not have direct access to camera feeds.
“This is not necessarily a change in policy, but certainly we are being more explicit in the communication and coordination — we want to ensure that players have full understanding,” McIntyre said.
“Like all areas of the event, we look at how we can change, adapt and improve, following and in advance of each year’s US Open. This includes listening to player feedback.“
After the complaints at the Australian Open, WTA chair Valerie Camillo said in a statement: “Recent concerns raised by WTA players at the Australian Open about cameras in off-court player areas are completely valid.
“This is a very human and fair request — athletes need spaces where they can recover and not feel constantly under scrutiny. Providing that space is part of our responsibility as a sport. The WTA is committed to listening to its players and acting on concerns like this.”
Players’ concerns over privacy also dovetail with a greater desire to capture their own footage for use in other media endeavors, including social media and YouTube channels. Grand Slam media rights deals remain so restrictive that players are not able to broadcast footage from their own matches, but an Australian Open spokesperson said in January that there had been a record number of requests from players to bring their own crews, with an uplift in filming in restricted areas, including the locker rooms and treatment and medical areas.
When the French Open starts on May 24, this tricky balancing act will continue: respecting privacy in an age when the mantra for many players and events seems to be that “content is king,” while at the same time satisfying the broadcasters whose media rights deals underpin significant chunks of their revenues.
Sports Business, Culture, Tennis, Women's Tennis