Inside the Tennis Locker Room: A Complex Communal Space
After a successful first-round match at the Australian Open in January, Coco Gauff noticed a fellow player eating sweets. She joked that the player must have had a good day on court, but the response was far from cheerful. The player referred to the sweets as "depression candy," reflecting a tough day on the court.
“They were, like, ‘No, this is depression candy,’” says Gauff, wincing.
Sharing locker rooms with opponents is a unique aspect of professional tennis, often leading to awkward moments. Paula Badosa describes how players prepare by avoiding eye contact with others in the locker room.
“That’s the thing we do, I think, all of us,” she says, smiling. “We try to avoid it and just say hi. That day you avoid the conversation and eye contact for sure.”
Gauff agrees, noting that interactions with familiar players are easier, but greetings with less familiar players can be uncertain.
“[With] the people I know really well, it’s not really that awkward. We’ll talk and be, ‘OK, see you out there,’ and that’s fine. But always with people you don’t know, you don’t know whether to say hi to them or not. I’m someone who usually always says hi, but the responses vary. And I understand – get in the moment.”
Belinda Bencic finds other shared moments, such as riding a golf cart to the court with opponents, more uncomfortable than the locker room itself.
“Sometimes you are doing your hair or getting ready for the match and your opponent is right there,” she says. “You don’t know if you should say small talk or not. Everyone is different. Some players are very relaxed – we are talking – and some players don’t want to talk to you before the match.”
The locker room atmosphere can be charged with emotion beyond just the opponent of the day. Players come and go after matches, some visibly upset or angry, creating a challenging environment to navigate.
“The worst thing about sharing a locker room is seeing someone, knowing they played, but not knowing how the score went,” says Gauff. “You don’t know what mood they’re in. I always find that hard to navigate.”
Despite the challenges, players become accustomed to these dynamics from their junior years. Madison Keys appreciates the communal aspect of the locker room.
“I quite enjoy it because even though you’re sharing a locker room with your opponents, you’re also sharing a locker room with friends,” she says.
“There have been moments where I know that either myself or other players have had really tough moments and you always have someone around you who can give you a hug and talk you through it. There is that immediate support. I guess other sports have that, but it’s your own teammates. It’s nice there’s an immediate sense of community versus [being] isolated.”
One strategy to reduce awkwardness is minimizing time spent in the locker room. Jannik Sinner has adapted his routine to limit his presence in communal areas.
“When I started to come on tour, I was on-site a lot,” he says. “I would spend a lot of time in the locker room, a lot of time in the restaurant area. Now I’m a bit different. Especially on training days, I come here [and] when the training is over or I eat something very fast here, then I leave or I leave straight away.”
Stefanos Tsitsipas observes that while most players maintain good relations, some become less approachable after achieving success.
“One thing I don’t understand is how they develop a bit of an attitude and a bit of an ego once they make one or two good results. Their whole personality changes. I wouldn’t say arrogant – perhaps some of them.
“I just wish more weren’t attached to their results and to what they do that determines who they are. I love humble people. That’s one of the reasons I admire Giannis Antetokounmpo a lot. He’s achieved so much through basketball. He’s one of the most humble athletes I’ve ever met and spent time with. I wish more tennis players were like that.”
Others, such as Daniil Medvedev, report that relationships among players have improved significantly compared to previous decades.
“I heard from them that 20 years ago it was as toxic as it could be,” he says. “I was shocked. I was, like: ‘But that’s why you guys finish your careers early because it’s constant pressure.
He told me some stories where from when you wake up you’re already under pressure. Going to the locker room, you’re under pressure.”
Today, Medvedev describes the locker room atmosphere as more peaceful and largely free of drama. The sport’s diversity brings together players from various cultures and backgrounds, requiring tact and discretion.
Belinda Bencic emphasizes the importance of respect in this shared space.
“It can be a little bit awkward if someone has had a bad day or just lost or something, then someone else comes in and is all happy,” she says. “It’s a shared space, so you have to really also be a little bit respectful to everyone else. Just be respectful and normal.”
