Tennis legend Serena Williams has defended Coco Gauff’s racket-smashing outburst, insisting the young American was merely displaying raw passion following her Australian Open quarter-final defeat to Elina Svitolina.
The 21-year-old suffered a comprehensive 6-1, 6-2 loss to her Ukrainian rival on Tuesday, with the match lasting a mere 59 minutes at Rod Laver Arena.
In the aftermath, the 2025 French Open champion vented her frustration by repeatedly slamming her racket against the court surface.
Gauff later confessed she’d hoped the cameras wouldn’t catch the moment, revealing to journalists that she’d attempted to find a secluded spot for her emotional release.
“Now, Coco, when you want, I can show you how to demolish in one swipe… Serena style,” she added.
During the 59-minute defeat, Gauff managed only three winners against Svitolina, making 26 unforced errors and five double faults in her quarter-final clash, which highlighted her ongoing serving issues.
Post-match, Gauff confessed that she chose to vent her frustrations off-court as she didn’t want her team to bear the brunt of her emotional outburst. “I think for me, I know myself. I don’t want to lash out at my team. They’re good people,” Gauff stated.
“They don’t deserve that. I know I’m emotional. I just took a minute to go and do that. I don’t think it’s a bad thing. 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.
“Otherwise, I’m just gonna be snappy with the people around me. I don’t want to do that. As I said, they don’t deserve it. They did their best. I did mine. Just need to let the frustration out.”
Meanwhile, Serena has reignited speculation that she could make a return to tennis, refusing to rule it out when asked and instead replying: “I don’t know. I’m just going to see what happens.”
The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, a 44-year-old mother-of-two, has not competed since a third-round loss at the 2022 US Open.
But she re-entered the tennis anti-doping testing pool in December, setting off the rumour mill, only to deny that she was making a comeback.
She was questioned about the prospect again on the television show “Today” on Wednesday, and while not confirming any plans, she also would not rule it out.
“I’m just having fun and enjoying my life right now,” Williams said.
Pressed on whether that was a yes or no, she replied: “That’s not a yes or a no. I don’t know, I’m just going to see what happens.”
Asked why she had re-entered the drug-testing program, Williams said: “Did I re-enter? I didn’t know if I was out. Listen, I can’t discuss this.”
Williams’ sister Venus played at the ongoing Australian Open in Melbourne aged 45 after being handed a wildcard and was knocked out in the first round.
Venus also competed at tournaments in Auckland and Hobart after returning to tennis in July after almost two years away.
During the Australian Open, former world number one Jim Courier, now a commentator, noted how onerous it was for athletes to be in the anti-doping testing pool.
Once they are, they need to provide information about where and when they are available to give samples.
They need to complete testing for six months before being allowed to return to competition.
