'It's a fine line': Craig Tiley weighs in on player request to improve privacy

(Getty/Morgan Hancock)

Craig Tiley is calling for the right balance to be struck between player privacy around the grounds and fan experience.

It comes after world No.3 Coco Gauff was captured smashing her racquet inside Rod Laver Arena - unaware that she was being filmed.

"Maybe some conversations can be had, because I feel like, at this tournament, the only private place we have is the locker room," she told the media after her quarter-final loss to Elina Svitolina.

Now a hot topic in the tennis circle, Tournament Director Craig Tiley provided his response.

"We want to listen to the players. We want to really understand what their needs and wants are," Tiley told Tennis Channel. "So that's the first question we'll ask. We've heard you, and whatever adjustments need to be made, we'll make.

"It's a fine line between the player promotion, event promotion, and where the cameras are.

"Now we do have many areas behind the scenes, for example, a coach's room, where players and coaches can interact, has no cameras. The locker rooms, the training rooms, the recovery rooms, the beauty rooms, the sleep rooms; there's many places we have on site that are player-only, no cameras.

"We'll continue to review it and make sure that the players are comfortable with it, but at the same time, we also want to bring the fan and the player closer."

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After the incident involving Gauff, other players expressed their views on the matter.

"The ­question is, are we tennis players or are we animals in the zoo where they are observed even when they poop? That was exaggerating, obviously, but it would be nice to have some privacy. It would be nice also to have your own process and not always be observed," Iga Świątek shared.

"I don't think it should be like that because we're tennis players, we're meant to be watched on the court and in the press, that's our job. It's not our job to be a meme when you forget your accreditation. It's funny, for sure, people have something to talk about. But, for us, I don't think it's necessary."

Having been around the tour for over two decades, camera footage and social media have changed drastically during Novak Djokovic's career.

"I saw what happened with Coco after her match. Look, I empathise with her," he said. "I know what it feels like to break a racquet. I've done it a few times in my career. I know how it is to be frustrated, particularly after a match where you underperform.

"I agree with her. It's really sad that you can't basically move away anywhere and hide and — what do you call that — fume out your frustration, your anger in a way that won't be captured by a camera.

"I mean, I'm surprised that we have no cameras while we are taking a shower!"

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