World No. 24 Anna Kalinskaya has weighed in on the decision to ban cameras from player areas at Roland Garros.
— How do you find the atmosphere here in Rome? It’s such an unusual tournament – everything is close together, fans are everywhere, cheering. Of course, you have your own safe zone. But they reach out through the fence at the practice courts, asking for autographs.
— Well, the security here is good compared to other tournaments. I try not to walk around too much – it’s hard to have a peaceful stroll. But it’s really nice that so many fans came out to support me, especially in my first match. It felt like a football atmosphere. I enjoy being on the stadium here, and it’s great that there are lots of trees, greenery all around, and beautiful statues. It’s a special tournament.
— The issue of cameras in player areas has come up before. There have been live streams from the gym or somewhere in the corridor while a player is preparing to go on court. What do you think about that? And about the recent news that Roland Garros plans to ban all cameras in the “backstage” areas?
— Well, I think it was too much with the cameras in the case of Coco Gauff. I believe it’s the right move – we need to be able to relax a little, not constantly think about being filmed. We need to focus on what we have to do, in a calm and comfortable atmosphere.
— Have such situations personally affected you?
— Of course, sometimes it’s uncomfortable to constantly know that maybe something will end up online. I feel calmer when I don’t have to limit myself. Instead of thinking, “What if I appear somewhere?” or “What if someone hears my conversation with my coach, maybe some emotions?” People might misinterpret it, or it could lead to unpleasant situations. I think we need some privacy, — Kalinskaya said in an interview with Championat correspondent Daniil Salnikov.
