Fri, February 27, 2026
WTA Texas tournament introduces rage room for players
A Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 250 tournament in Austin, Texas (ATX Open) has introduced a rage room for players which will allow them to privately express their frustrations away from cameras. A WTA 250 tournament is an entry-level professional tennis event on the WTA Tour, featuring 32 singles players and 16 doubles teams.
This was partly established in the wake of America’s double Grand Slam winner, Coco Gauff, being filmed smashing her racket after her defeat during the Australian Open quarter-final against Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina without her knowing, which was broadcast globally.
Gauff stated: “I just took the 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…
Maybe some conversations can be had because I feel like at this tournament the only private place we have is the locker room.”
Following this, top players, such as 24-time Grand Slam winner, Novak Djokovic, called for greater privacy for players.
ATX Open announced: “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.”
Whilst many commentors have shared positive remarks about the rage room, others have suggested that encouraging players to physically express their frustrations could be harmful.
Elsewhere, the Dubai Tennis Championships established a ‘Smash Room’ for fans and players. Chinese player, Shang Juncheng, tried it out, stating: “I smashed a few items, including DVDs and big containers…
It's loud and it's intense but in a good way. You get everything out of your system in there instead of taking that frustration onto the court.”
Wimbledon will continue to use behind the scenes cameras, according to Tennis365.
