Australian Open boss Craig Tiley on player privacy concerns: "We've heard you"

Australian Open boss Craig Tiley wants tennis players to know that their concerns are being heard.

Joining Tennis Channel Live at the Australian Open on Thursday in Melbourne, Tennis Australia CEO and Australian Open tournament director Tiley weighed in on the recent controversy regarding the presence of behind-the-scenes cameras broadcasting scenes from player areas at the event. The Australian Open has broadcast scenes from restricted areas for nearly a decade, allowing for additional fodder for broadcasters and content for social media, and other tournaments including the US Open have followed suit. But debate around their presence was reignited this week this week after Coco Gauff's quarterfinal loss to Elina Svitolina.

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After the 6-1, 6-2 defeat, the American wanted to privately break her racquet after leaving the court, but the scene was captured on camera and broadcast publicly to Gauff's chagrin. Her peers, including Novak Djokovic, Jessica Pegula and Iga Swiatek, agreed with Gauff's assessment that "maybe some conversations can be had," about limiting access, with Swiatek—who was miffed at becoming "a meme" when cameras caught her forgetting her credential to enter the player gym the same day—even saying she feels like players are treated like "animals at the zoo."

While arguing that the event needs to walk "a fine line between the player promotion, event promotion, and where the cameras are," Tiley also says it is not obstinate.

"We want to listen to the players, we want to really understand what their needs and what their wants are," he said, "so that's the first question we'll ask; we've heard you and whatever adjustments we need to make, we will make."

"We'll continue to review it and make sure that the players are comfortable with it," he added. "But at the same time, we also want to bring the fan and the player closer. We believe, as tennis players, we can really lift up their value and the love the fans have for them. But it's a fine line that we have to keep walking."

We'll continue to review it and make sure that the players are comfortable with it. But at the same time, we also want to bring the fan and the player closer. Craig Tiley

Also Thursday, the WTA issued its own statement backing calls for change, where WTA chairperson Valerie Camillo called player concerns "completely valid."

"This is a very human and fair request—athletes need spaces where they can recover and not feel constantly under scrutiny," she said. "Providing that space is part of our responsibility as a sport. The WTA is committed to listening to its players and acting on concerns like this."

Read more: Coco Gauff unsuccessful in privately breaking racquet, as AO cameras document frustration

The WTA said it had already taken steps to reduce the number of cameras in off-court areas at its owned and operated tournaments.

"We moved to this standard because we agree that there should be clear, respectful boundaries in off-court areas," the governing body of women's tennis added, calling for similar action from other events and broadcasters. "We believe this issue should be reviewed by tournament organizers and broadcast partners to ensure appropriate boundaries are in place."

Read more: Watch: No credential, no entry for Iga Swiatek at Australian Open