Tennis legend Serena Williams quickly defended Coco Gauff after a video of Gauff smashing her racket went viral following her loss at the Australian Open. Williams, considered one of the greatest players ever, immediately supported the 21-year-old after footage of her frustrated moment started spreading online.
According to People, The 23-time Grand Slam champion wrote on X, “Passion. Caring. Matters. Nothing wrong with hating to lose. Now Coco when you want I can show you how to demolish in one swipe… Serena style.” Williams wasn’t alone in defending Gauff. Her husband, Alexis Ohanian, also spoke up, criticizing media outlets for publishing headlines about Gauff’s emotional moment just to get clicks.
Ohanian wrote that he loves the “energy and emotion” from Gauff. He stated, “We love sports because it’s raw, because these athletes put their ALL into the battle and sometimes (like life) you don’t win. Media are gonna spin this private moment for a headline to get some clicks, but Coco did nothing wrong here.”
Operation Sports App
Your ultimate companion for sports gaming. Access in-depth coverage, thoughtful discussion, and a community built around the games—and sports—you love.
Your ultimate sports gaming companion.
Athletes deserve privacy during their most vulnerable moments
Gauff lost her quarterfinal match to Elina Svitolina in straight sets. The viral video showed Gauff walking into an inner hallway of the stadium, away from public view, where she repeatedly slammed her racket into the concrete floor behind a low barrier. This incident sparked debate about media coverage, similar to recent controversies about NFL Hall of Fame decisions.
Gauff was clearly upset that cameras captured and broadcast her private moment. She explained after the match that she deliberately went to an off-court area to vent her frustrations, partly to protect her team and partly to avoid a public scene.
“I tried to go somewhere where I thought there wasn’t a camera because I don’t necessarily like breaking rackets,” Gauff explained. She added, “I feel like they don’t need to broadcast. So, yeah, maybe some conversations can be had.” She had previously broken a racket at the French Open and promised herself she wouldn’t do it again on court because she doesn’t think it’s “a good representation.”
Gauff’s frustration was understandable given her difficult performance. The reigning French Open champion made 26 unforced errors and won only two out of 11 points on her second serve. Athletes across sports face similar pressure, with some like Travis Kelce dealing with tough postseason decisions. “I don’t think it’s a bad thing. Like I said, I don’t try to do it on court in front of kids and things like that, but I do know I need to let out that emotion,” she noted.
The next day, Gauff posted on Instagram, addressing the headlines. She wrote, “living and learning. but still will keep trying to move forward,” and added, “also, im a real person with real feelings… i care a lot & im trying my best. thank you to those who understand that🧡.”
Published: Jan 29, 2026 01:30 pm