Coco Gauff calls for a big change to Grand Slam rules during the French Open
Coco Gauff has spoken up about a problem with privacy at tennis Grand Slams while playing at the French Open.
Gauff is defending her title after winning Roland Garros in 2025. She started strong by beating fellow American Taylor Townsend 6-4, 6-0. The 22-year-old, who is the fourth seed, will face Egyptian qualifier Mayar Sherif in the second round. If she wins, she could face either Great Britain’s Katie Boulter or Austria’s Anastasia Potapova next.
Gauff was unhappy about the lack of privacy at the Australian Open in January, where cameras showed her smashing her racket after losing in the quarter-finals.
At Roland Garros, the atmosphere feels better for players because there are fewer backstage cameras and less exposure off the court. Gauff hopes other Grand Slams will follow their example.
“Roland Garros does a good job with the cameras,” Gauff said during her first-round press conference in Paris.
“I haven’t had any moments where they broadcast something emotional, like if I’ve been crying in the gym — it never showed on camera.
“The problem felt different in Australia because most private areas were being recorded, so there was nowhere to go.
“And some cameras looked more like security cameras, not the usual broadcast ones.
“I think having a light or signal on cameras to let us know when we’re being recorded or streamed would really help.”
Gauff is a two-time Grand Slam winner, having won the US Open in 2023. She made it to the semi-finals of the Australian Open and French Open in 2024. After losing to Iga Swiatek in the 2024 French Open semi-final, she came back stronger and won the title last year.
At this year’s Australian Open, she lost 6-1, 6-2 to Elina Svitolina in the quarter-finals, which led to an unwanted public moment.
“I tried to find a place without cameras,” Gauff said in Paris.
“I don’t like how some moments — like what happened with Aryna Sabalenka after I played her in the US Open final — get broadcast. I feel like they don’t need to share those moments.”