Wimbledon has firmly announced it will make no changes to its behind-the-scenes camera setup for the 2026 Championships, despite recent backlash over player privacy at the Australian Open.
It will instead prioritise visible placements, pre-notification to players, internal footage review, and preserved private zones while maintaining the benefits of enhanced viewer access to the sport's emotional highs and lows.
This stems from an incident where Coco Gauff was filmed smashing her racket in a corridor after losing to Elina Svitolina in the AO quarter-finals. The footage was captured by tournament cameras in a non-public area, prompting criticism from top players.
Wimbledon holds line on behind-the-scenes cameras amid Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek and Novak Djokovic criticism
As per a report by The Times, a leading tennis agent wrote to the four Grand Slams, the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open, questioning whether off-court, backstage, or behind-the-scenes cameras were invading players' privacy.
However, the All England Club confirmed to players’ representatives in a recent letter that there will be no changes. As per Tom Kershaw of The Times:
“Wimbledon has told players it will not be making any changes to its camera set-up at this year’s championships despite a backlash over behind-the-scenes access at the Australian Open.”
However, it further said that the Wimbledon authorities and bosses will review the footage before broadcasting it as they are “acutely aware of the need to prioritise players’ welfare.”
The recent controversy over player privacy in professional tennis has intensified following a viral incident at the Australian Open. Gauff was captured on camera smashing her racket in frustration after a quarter-final defeat, unable to find a truly private space to vent her emotions.
This moment sparked widespread criticism from top stars, including Novak Djokovic, who called it "sad" that players can no longer express raw disappointment without it becoming broadcast content. Others, like Iga Swiatek, likened constant surveillance to being treated like "animals in a zoo." While Wimbledon has decided not to make any changes in the backstage cameras, they have promised to make sure reviewing the videos before they are aired.
ALSO READ: Mirra Andreeva reaches another milestone; ties Gauff in record books for THIS reason