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‘It’s a fine line’: Australian Open chief breaks silence on ‘animals in a zoo’ privacy row | Tennis News

Sandy Verma | January 29, 2026 5:25 PM CST

Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley has broken his silence on the growing debate around player privacy at the Grand Slam, admitting it is “a fine line” after several top stars complained about backstage camera access — with Iga Swiatek likening the experience to being treated like “animals in a zoo”. controversy erupted after Coco Gauff was caught on camera angrily smashing her racquet in the tunnels of Melbourne Park following her quarterfinal defeat on Tuesday. The footage, filmed in what Gauff believed was a private space, was broadcast and quickly went viral.Swiatek, the world No. 2, was among the most vocal. “The question is, are we tennis players, or are we animals in the zoo where they are observed even when they poop?” she said.Speaking publicly for the first time since the issue surfaced, Tiley told the Tennis Channel that the tournament was listening closely to player concerns. “We want to listen to the players, we want to really understand what their needs and what their wants are,” he said. “So that’s the first question we’ll ask — we’ve heard you — and whatever adjustments we need to make, we will make.”

Tiley explained that while cameras are allowed in certain shared areas, such as the player gym, strict boundaries already exist. “There are other rooms that are off-limits,” he said, pointing to locker rooms, coaches’ rooms and recovery areas.“It’s a fine line between the player promotion and event promotion and where the cameras are,” Tiley acknowledged. He stressed that the balance between access and privacy would continue to be reviewed. “We’ll continue to review it and make sure the players are comfortable with it.”At the same time, Tiley defended the intent behind behind-the-scenes coverage. “We also want to bring the fan and the player closer,” he said, adding that increased visibility can help “lift up their value and also the love the fans have for them”.Ultimately, he conceded, “It’s a fine line we’ve got to keep walking.”