WTA tournament in Austin sets up 'rage room' for players to take out frustrations

[p]Shortly after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gauff-coco/f5BXmEH6/"]Gauff[/a]'s 59-minute quarter-final loss to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/monfils-elina/jyngIesG/"]‌Elina Svitolina[/a] at Melbourne Park, the American went ‌to the match call area and repeatedly smashed her racket on the ground, unaware that it ‌was being broadcast to viewers around ⁠the world.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/djokovic-novak/AZg49Et9/"]Novak Djokovic[/a] ‌and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/swiatek-iga/jNyZsXZe/"]Iga Swiatek[/a] were among the players calling for ​more privacy off the court following the incident.[/p][p]The ATX Open in Austin, ​Texas, has come up with a solution.[/p][p]"[b]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[/b]," the WTA 250 tournament posted on its social media platforms.[/p][embed guid="87376315-7f33-4500-9330-d6f41187be58" url="https://x.com/AtxOpen/status/2026513050765848591" social-type="twitter" /][p]The post ‌also featured a sign with the words "don't smile" and "count to three" along with a broken racket.[/p][p]While reaction online was largely positive, some questioned whether the room would encourage players to vent their frustrations in a physical manner.[/p][p]Dubai Tennis Championships organisers have set up a "Smash Room" truck for fans this week, with Chinese ‌player [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/shang-juncheng/tvjTgE3J/"]Shang Juncheng[/a] invited to try it out ​in front of the cameras.[/p][p]"[b]I smashed a ‌few items, including DVDs and big containers[/b]," he said. "[b]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[/b]."[/p]