Responding to the player privacy debate ignited by Coco Gauff's Australian Open outburst, French Open director Amélie Mauresmo has banned camera access to private player zones—the first Grand Slam to do so. The policy was confirmed at a pre-tournament press conference, alongside a 9.53% prize money increase to $72.8 million.
The decision follows Coco Gauff's high-profile complaints, including her call at the April 14 Stuttgart Open for Grand Slams to provide private spaces. There, she highlighted intrusions like cameras filming her pre-match prayers and off-court moments, echoing frustrations from her viral racket-smashing meltdown after a 2026 Australian Open loss.
Mauresmo stated: “Players need a private area, something which will not change. No cam access.” This contrasts with Wimbledon's confirmation of no changes to its 2026 broadcast setup, which values some backstage footage while protecting designated player areas.
Other Grand Slams have yet to announce similar measures. The French Open's total prize pool rises to $72,819,252 (€61,723,000), with singles winners earning around $3.3 million (€2.8 million) each.
