Tim Henman, Laura Robson and Naomi Cavaday have their say after a WTA event in Texas unveiled a ‘rage room’ for gamers to take out their frustrations away from the cameras.
Coco Gauff’s racket-smashing outburst on the Australian Open final month sparked debate about privateness at tournaments.
Shortly after Gauff’s 59-minute quarter-final loss to Elina Svitolina at Melbourne Park, the American went to the match-call space and repeatedly smashed her racket on the bottom, unaware that it was being broadcast to viewers around the globe.
The ATX Open in Austin, Texas, has give you an answer.
“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 event posted on its social media platforms.
The publish additionally featured an indication with the phrases “don’t smile” and “count to three” together with a damaged racket.
Dubai Tennis Championships organisers arrange a ‘Smash Room’ truck for followers, with Chinese language participant Shang Juncheng invited to strive it out in entrance of the cameras.
“I smashed a few items, including DVDs and big containers,” he mentioned. “It’s loud and it’s intense but in a good way. You get everything out of your system in there instead of taking that frustration onto the court.”
Shang added that off-court experiences throughout a event might help gamers “unwind”.
“I think it helps you feel lighter,” Shang mentioned. “As long as you stay in control when you’re playing, it’s a nice way to unwind. I’d never done anything like this before, so it was a great experience.”
Novak Djokovic joked he was ‘shocked we have now no cameras whereas we’re having a shower’
Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek have been among the many gamers calling for extra privateness off the court docket following the Gauff incident.
Djokovic mentioned on the Australian Open that he’s “against” gamers being filmed at each step throughout tournaments.
“It’s really sad that you can’t move away anywhere and hide and fume out your frustration, your anger, in a way that won’t be captured by a camera,” Djokovic mentioned.
“But we live in a society where content is everything. It’s a deeper discussion. It’s really hard for me to see the trend changing in the opposite direction, meaning we take out cameras.
“It is solely going to be as it’s or much more cameras. I am shocked we have now no cameras whereas we’re having a shower. That is in all probability the subsequent step.
“I’m against it. I think there should be a limit and a borderline where this is our space. You gotta be careful. I remember the time when we didn’t have so many cameras.
“Getting used to having a watch that you do not hear that you just generally neglect about, all the time on you, is scary. At instances you wanna chill out and be your self in a way that you don’t need the general public to see.”
Sluggish walkers would set Robson off…
Coco Gauff repeatedly smashed her racket on the bottom on the Australian Open
Sky Sports activities’ pundits have had their say on the thought with four-time Wimbledon semi-finalist Henman claiming the media drive in income, so though the incident with Gauff in Melbourne was regrettable, there are two sides to the coin.
“We’ve all had a moment at a time or a place. It’s a different world that we live in and obviously what happened with Gauff was unfortunate for her, however, the media drive a lot of things in sport,” mentioned Henman.
“They drive in revenues so it was a bit embarrassing and unfortunate that she was upset and no one wants to see that, but when you’re paying for tens and tens of millions of dollars then there has to be two sides of the coin.
“So rage room, no cameras, non-public area, I prefer it.
“I could remember a few times when you break a racket after the match but it was a different era. Wooden rackets break a lot easier.”
Laura Robson thinks the thought of smashing your racket in non-public is a ‘good concept’
Former British No 1 Robson mentioned: “It’s fantastic! It really made me laugh, especially in Australia where players have no privacy to go and break their racket, so now they’ve got the perfect opportunity to go in and break as many rackets as they want to, shout as much as they want to, and just let it all out.”
However what would set Robson off? “Slow walkers for me! That is my number one pet peeve,” she quipped.
Commentator Naomi Cavaday added: “For players to have somewhere private to go after losses is definitely a good thing for them. To be able and just go and have a bit of peace and quiet, but I was never one to be filled with rage.”
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