The WTA tournament in Texas has unveiled a 'rage room' allowing players to vent their frustrations away from cameras, following the controversy over Coco Gauff's outburst at the Australian Open last month when she smashed her racket in front of live broadcast cameras. Minutes after her quarter-final loss to Elina Svitolina in Melbourne Park, the American player went to the side of the court and began repeatedly smashing her racket on the ground, unaware that the scene was being broadcast live to viewers worldwide. Stars like Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek were among those who called for more privacy for players after the incident. 'It helps to release energy and clear your mind before stepping onto the court,' said one player. 'It was a really cool experience to go through.' The post also featured a sign reading 'Don't smile' next to a broken racket. While online reactions were mostly positive, some questioned whether such a room might encourage players to express anger physically more often. At the Dubai Tennis Championships, organizers set up what they called an 'interactive smash truck' in the tennis village, where Chinese player Shang Juncheng experienced the room in front of cameras. 'The atmosphere is loud and full of excitement, and you can let everything out there instead of carrying frustration onto the court,' he explained. He noted that the physical aspect was the most distinctive part of the experience, adding, 'I smashed a number of things, including DVDs and large containers'. In this context, the Austin Open announced an innovative solution. The tournament, part of the ATP 250 series, posted on its social media: 'Introducing the Austin Open Rage Room - the first of its kind, where players can express their frustrations or emotions in complete privacy, within a safe, camera-free space'.
