Iga Swiatek Lashes Out and Says That Tennis Players “Are Not Animals in a Zoo”

World No. 2 Iga Swiatek has sparked an important debate in professional tennis by speaking out against the growing media exposure of players off the court, calling for greater privacy and respect following several recent controversies on the tour.

The Polish star addressed the issue after incidents such as a personal moment involving a forgotten tournament credential and widely circulated images of Coco Gauff breaking her racket, moments that quickly went viral on social media.

Speaking to the press, Swiatek openly questioned where the line should be drawn between sports entertainment and athletes’ personal space, criticizing the constant presence of cameras in restricted areas at tournaments.

“The question is whether we are athletes or animals in a zoo, being watched even in our most private moments,” Swiatek said.

The Grand Slam champion made it clear that players understand and accept exposure during matches and official press conferences, but argued that their daily routines inside tournament venues should not become viral content.

“Our job is to compete on the court, not to become memes for forgetting a credential or for trivial situations,” she added.

Swiatek also emphasized that the lack of private spaces can negatively impact physical preparation, mental focus, and team dynamics, especially when coaches and players need to work without external pressure.

“It would be positive to have places where you can focus on your work without everyone watching,” she explained.

She noted that at some tournaments, fans and media cameras have access to training areas and internal corridors, making constant exposure unavoidable. According to Swiatek, this trend blurs the line between high-performance sport and content creation for social media.

Swiatek’s comments come shortly after footage circulated of world No. 3 Coco Gauff smashing her racket in frustration following her loss to Elina Svitolina.

Gauff later explained that she tried to release her emotions away from the court and out of the public spotlight.

“I’m not trying to do it on the court in front of kids or anything like that. I just need to let my emotions out — otherwise, I’ll be irritable with the people around me,” Gauff said.

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