Wimbledon REJECT calls to make major change despite outraged players’ pleas

Wimbledon are said to have confirmed to players’ representatives that they will be using backstage cameras to give viewers behind-the-scenes access to this year’s tournament

Wimbledon have informed players that they will be going ahead with plans to show behind-the-scenes footage to viewers in this year’s tournament, despite calls from stars for it to be axed.

An incident in The Australian Open which saw Coco Gauff smashing her racket after losing in the quarter-finals to Elina Svitolina quickly went viral, with the American later suggesting that “conversations can be had” over backstage cameras.

The Times report that a leading tennis agent subsequently wrote to all four grand-slam tournaments after that incident to raise concerns over a potential invasion of privacy.

However, the report notes that Wimbledon have no intention of deviating from the camera set-up which was used at last year’s tournament, with the All England Club communicating that stance to a group of player representatives last Friday.

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In a letter confirming the decision, it’s said Wimbledon made it clear they were ‘acutely aware of the need to prioritise players’ welfare’ and that all footage would be reviewed before being broadcast.

They also moved to reassure players by highlighting that all cameras would be ‘clearly visible’, and that their positions would be relayed before the championships begin.

The decision is likely to split opinion with several players questioning their level of privacy in the wake of footage of Gauff destroying her racket quickly going viral.

“Yeah, I tried to go somewhere where there was no cameras,” Gauff said after the incident.

“Yeah, I kind of have a thing with the broadcast. I feel like certain moments – the same thing happened to Aryna [Sabalenka] after I played her in final of US Open. I feel like they don’t need to broadcast.”

Iga Swiatek, the World No 2, even likened players being filmed backstage to being ‘animals in a zoo’ when discussing the matter.

Swiatek said: “The ­question is, are we tennis players or are we animals in the zoo, where they are observed even when they poop? That was exaggerating, obviously, but it would be nice to have some privacy.

“It would be nice also to have your own process and not always be observed.”