Australian Open 2026: Coco Gauff loses to Elina Svitolina after Aryna Sabalenka advances to semi-finals

Explaining why she felt the need to smash her racket afterwards, Gauff said: “I don’t want to be harsh on my team. They don’t deserve this.”

“I don’t think it’s a bad thing. I try not to do it on the field in front of kids and things like that, but I know I have to get that emotion out.”

Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash said players needed privacy during an emotionally taxing tournament.

“There are cameras absolutely everywhere and the players need quiet spaces,” he told the Radio 5 Sports extra programme.

“This is the only sanctuary a well-known tennis player can have other than a hotel room.

“Players have to be in the locker room and hotel rooms to have any privacy; that’s just not right.”

Gauff had shown her resilience with back-to-back three-set victories to advance to the quarterfinals, but she never managed to get a foothold against Svitolina.

The Ukrainian 12th seed was ruthless, making six of seven break point opportunities to advance to her first Australian Open semi-final.

Gauff, who led the tour with 431 double faults last season (131 more than any other player), has made a concerted effort to improve her serve by hiring biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan, who had previously assisted Sabalenka.

But five double faults in the first set (including going 2-1 down at break point and set point) contributed to a dismal end to the tournament.