'Don't Really Have Safe Space': Shelton’s Views Reflect Sabalenka's 'Private Moment' Incident
ATP
Ben Shelton greatly sympathises with Aryna Sabalenka after her private moment was shown on social media.
Aryna Sabalenka won the opening set of the US Open and looked on track to win the trophy, but Coco Gauff fought back to win the match in three sets. After the ceremony, the Belarusian went to the locker room, where she destroyed a racquet before tossing it in the trash, and cameras picked that up.
The video was ultimately released on social media, dividing opinions among fans. Some liked to see the rawness of the moment, while others argued that it was an invasion of privacy. Some pointed out that a camera team was spotted filming that, presumably for Netflix's Break Point, but the Belarusian has creative control over that.
She can elect to remove any footage she's not comfortable showing, unlike this, which was posted fairly quickly without her being asked about it. In a recent interview for GQ, Shelton echoed the privacy concern, noting how microphones and cameras are everywhere.
"At the US Open, the camera and the mic are always there. You go into the gym, they’re following you. I’m talking with Coco [Gauff] after we both won our match, there’s a mic above our head. You don’t really have a safe space where people aren’t watching. When you can get back to your hotel room, you can kind of relax."
The youngster further explained that sometimes in the moment, you say something that you wouldn't say but it's too late, it was already picked up by microphones and cameras. Players are fully aware of it and it does create some tension according to the youngster.
"Every once in a while, when you say something you wish you didn’t. And you just look at the camera that’s caught you, it’s in your head a little bit."
He's a fairly young player quite unfamiliar with that sort of setup, but in time, he'll get used to it. It's unlikely to go away as the sport is moving in the other direction, giving more and more access to fans.
