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Carlos Alcaraz has admitted he is uncomfortable with the tunnel cameras tennis broadcasters frequently employ. At the Australian Open, Coco Gauff was filmed smashing her tennis racket backstage following her defeat to Elina Svitolina.

The tunnel camera, which has been widely used at both the US Open and the Australian Open, captures players as they walk out to the court from their dressing room, as well as their return after victory or defeat. Following her moment of anguish being caught on the backstage cameras, Gauff admitted players are being afforded less and less privacy, stating the locker room is now the only sanctuary where tennis stars can escape the cameras.

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka was also caught in a similar situation,filmed smashing her racket backstage after her defeat to Gauff in the final. When asked for his views on the intrusive cameras, Alcaraz backed Gauff and confirmed his own discomfort with them.

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Speaking to Punto De Break, he said: "For the fans, it's great. They love to see what happens behind the scenes, what we do, how the facilities are inside the tournaments.

"But for the players, it's a bit strange because we no longer have a place to relax, as we are constantly thinking that there are cameras and everyone is watching us.

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"Having cameras so close, being able to see what we are seeing on our phones, seems excessive to me. Already, we don't have much privacy in tournaments.

"I think this is too much. We should have spaces where we can be alone without being filmed."

When Gauff was asked about her reaction being caught on camera, she pleaded with broadcasters to give players some breathing room away from the media spotlight. She said: "I tried to go somewhere where there was no cameras. 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.

"Maybe some conversations can be had, because I feel like at this tournament the only private place we have is the locker room.

"I don't want to lash out on my team. They're good people. They don't deserve that, and I know I'm emotional. I don't try to do it on court in front of kids and things like that.

"But I do know I need to let out that emotion. Otherwise, I'm just going to be snappy with the people around me, and I don't want to do that. They did their best. I did mine."