Months After Coco Gauff Fiasco, Wimbledon Sends Email to Players About Behind-the-Scenes Cameras

Following player privacy concerns raised by Coco Gauff and several other leading tennis players, the organizers of the Wimbledon Championships have adopted a new approach, informing players where cameras will be placed and how the footage will be used throughout the Grand Slam.

Gauff raised the concern after the Australian Open, when cameras captured her smashing a racket in a corridor after her loss.

Wimbledon Implements Camera Location Reform After Concerns Raised by Coco Gauff

In an email sent to players by the organizers of the Wimbledon Championships, the issue of camera positions was raised. Tennis journalist Jon Wertheim said that the email touched on where the cameras will be located and how the Grand Slam organizers will use that footage.

Wertheim gave Gauff a nod for leading the reform to ensure players have more privacy before and after their matches.

“2 cameras in the gym within the Millennium Building, 1 camera on the Players’ Lawn mounted halfway up the southern steps, 1 camera at the player transport arrival point at the Indoor Tennis Center, 1 camera in the tunnel from the Indoor Tennis Center to the Millennium Building, 1 camera in the Players’ Restaurant to the left of the serving area entrance, 1 camera outside the Ladies’ and Gentlemen’s Members’ Dressing Rooms, 4 cameras at Aorgangi Player Lawn covering practice courts and warm-up area,” the email read.

The email added that Wimbledon’s broadcast team would carefully curate the footage and make it available to broadcast partners, with the aim of providing behind-the-scenes access that showcases the players in a positive light while respecting their privacy and experience.

The Wimbledon organizers had stated in February that they did not have any plans to make changes to where cameras were placed.

Gauff has complained about the invasive behind-the-scenes camera coverage on several occasions, with the likes of Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, and Madison Keys also hitting out at tournament organizers for having cameras up close to them.

Meanwhile, Iga Świątek joined Gauff in criticizing the lack of privacy afforded to players at the Australian Open, comparing them to animals in a zoo.

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The issue came into the spotlight when Gauff smashed her racket after losing her Australian Open quarterfinal, thinking she was out of the camera range. However, the moment was captured and aired on the broadcast, preventing the tennis star from venting her frustration in private.

In the wake of this player criticism, the French Open announced a ban on cameras in players’ areas to protect their privacy. It will be interesting to see how the measures announced by the Wimbledon Championships work throughout the Grand Slam at the All England Club.