Craig Tiley closes the debate on cameras: "We want to bring the player closer to the viewer"

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Not even the best Grand Slam on the circuit is exempt from certain controversies that have arisen in recent days. Craig Tiley, director of the Australian Open, took the opportunity to address certain doubts that fans may have.

For example, doubts exist regarding everything related to the roof of the center court or the controversy surrounding Cori Gauff and her image in the hallways smashing her racket. Are there too many cameras at the Australian Open 2026? Perhaps should more privacy be given to the player and their teams? On the Tennis Channel panel, we could hear Craig Tiley sharing his thoughts on these issues, confirming how challenging it is to keep all parties satisfied.

A tournament that is always evolving

"We are experiencing great attendance in this edition; the numbers are very good. However, my mind is always thinking about the future, about how to improve things for the upcoming years, regardless of what happened the day before. We love to think that we are a huge international event, a tournament that always bets on innovation, takes risks when necessary, and gives its all in every aspect. The reality is that we have a wonderful team that always delivers.

This year, we have adapted the box for coaches, in addition to the entrance hallway for players at the Rod Laver Arena. We wanted to present tennis in a different way, and I believe we have found a very appealing way to do so. This is the path we will continue on, taking risks and innovating to make this experience much better."

The chaos of scheduling

"It is a very intense task, as any player knows. Of course, we have requests, many requests, but we are aware that it is impossible to fulfill them all. We always have to consider the multiple variables that come into play when arranging a schedule. The feeling is like being in front of a huge chessboard; it is even fun to solve the problems, especially considering that all players want to be on the main stadium. We like to hear that they are happy, that they receive proper treatment or that the food is good; in some way, it sets a standard for the rest of the season, so we will continue to improve so that they have better opportunities each time. But yes, the issue of scheduling can be one of the most stressful moments."

The director of the Australian Open responds to the controversy of the cameras

"The first thing we want to do is listen to the players; we want to understand what they need, what they want. This is the first question we aim to answer. There is a very fine line between promoting the player/tournament and the placement of cameras. There are many areas where we do not have cameras: coaches' room, locker rooms, training room, recovery room, rest area... there are many areas without cameras. Then there are the access hallways to the stadiums, where we do have cameras, obviously. We will continue to listen to the protagonists, discovering what makes them comfortable, but always bearing in mind that we also want to bring the player as close as possible to the viewer because they love this experience. We will continue along that line, although it is very delicate."

Open roof or closed roof?

"It's another good question that we have posed to the players. Some have a clear preference; they prefer to play outdoors, and it makes sense since this is an outdoor tournament. With a roof, the conditions change, but we are obliged to close it if the heat conditions reach a peak point. If you ask me, I would like to close the roof much earlier, but we need the majority of players to agree on this. I think even the warm-up among the players would look entirely different, but we are still studying the possibilities."

Wawrinka's farewell in Australia

"It was a completely unexpected moment; I even asked him after the match, 'Did you plan this in case you lost the match?' It was tremendous to see him pull out those two beers at such a moment, in addition to the conversation we had afterward. It's emotional to see him bid farewell to Australia after playing here for 20 years, achieving incredible records, and becoming more popular every season. One thing I love about Stan is that if he has a problem, he will come directly to discuss it with you; he will never send someone in his place. This is something I have always appreciated in an athlete. If next year he is out of work, I have already told him that whenever he is ready, we will start negotiations."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Craig Tiley cierra el debate de las cámaras: “Queremos acercar el jugador al espectador”