Even though Coco Gauff isn’t competing at the WTA 250 ATX Open in Austin, her influence has been felt throughout the tournament, inspiring a unique initiative for players to manage stress.
The American tennis star made headlines earlier this year at the Australian Open when she smashed her racket after her quarterfinal loss to Elina Svitolina, a moment the ATX Open organizers clearly took note of.
The ATX Open has now unveiled what it calls Austin’s first “rage room,” allowing players to release frustration in a controlled and private environment, a move the tournament shared widely on social media.
“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 tournament said, in an official statement via X.com, formerly Twitter.
While the announcement does not name Gauff directly, the connection is obvious. The room reflects the type of stress the star released with her racket meltdown in Melbourne, providing a safe alternative for future incidents.
At the Australian Open, Gauff waited until she was off the court to break her racket, hoping for privacy. Unfortunately, a camera captured the moment, and the footage went viral online, sparking debate about player privacy.
The ATX Open’s rage room includes a sign with encouraging phrases and images of shattered tennis rackets.
Although Gauff herself is not present to use the room, early-round exits from Venus Williams and Bianca Andreescu suggest that some players may already have tested the facility, channeling frustration safely after tough matches.
Gauff hits out at lack of privacy in tennis
Following the incident at the Australian Open, Gauff criticized tennis authorities for the lack of privacy, arguing that players need spaces to vent without being broadcast.
She described the situation after her Australian Open loss to Elina Svitolina as a breach of privacy, after she had tried to avoid the cameras to blow off some steam.
Despite her precautions, nearly every area in Rod Laver Arena is under surveillance, and footage of her smashing the racket seven times against a concrete ramp quickly spread on TV and social media.
“I tried to go somewhere where I thought there wasn’t a camera, because I don’t necessarily like breaking rackets,” Gauff explained post-game. “Certain moments – the same thing happened to Aryna (Sabalenka) after I played her in the final of the US Open – I feel like they don’t need to broadcast.
“I broke one racket (at the) French Open, I think. And I said I would never do it again on court because I don’t feel like that’s a good representation. Maybe some conversations can be had.”
The 21-year-old, who turns 22 on March 13, reiterated that smashing a racket isn’t inherently negative, but she prefers to avoid doing it in front of children, balancing her emotional release with responsibility.
Tennis has a history of players breaking rackets on court, often resulting in fines, but Gauff’s off-court incident reignited conversations about player privacy and the pressures on young athletes in high-stakes tournaments.
By introducing the rage room, the ATX Open has acknowledged both the psychological intensity of professional tennis and the need for safe outlets, demonstrating the long-reaching influence of Gauff’s Australian Open moment.
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