Ten worst meltdowns in tennis history

There is nothing in sport quite like a good tennis meltdown. Tennis being an individual sport means that all the focus is on that one player as he or she loses his or her cool in epic – and hilarious – fashion.

Tennis is where it is at in terms of a sporting superstar completely losing control of their emotions. Here is a list of the top 10 meltdowns in tennis history.

10. Andre Agassi, US Open, 1991

Agassi was always known for being a flamboyant and emotional player. At the 1991 US Open he lost control after an out call he didn’t agree with. Stopping his rant before it got going, Agassi was still issued a warning. Incensed, Agassi then went back to the umpire’s chair and called him a “son of a bitch.”

Agassi was also called for spitting on the umpire during the altercation, though this was rescinded by a supervisor who believed the spit to be unintentional.

9. Jeff Tarango, Wimbledon, 1995

Tarango was already known for having a bad attitude when he pulled this Wimbledon stunt in 1995.

Yelling “shut up” at fans after an ace, Tarango was assessed a warning by the chair umpire. After a meltdown at the chair – for which he was assessed a second warning – Tarango walked off of the court and became the first player to quit in this manner at a major. Tarango’s wife later interrupted his press conference to claim she had slapped the umpire twice after the match.

8. David Nalbandian, AEGON Championships, 2012

Argentinian Nalbandian was famous for having a temper, one that got the better of him at the AEGON in 2012. After losing a point, but while actually ahead in the match, Nalbandian took his frustration out on the nearest object in his path.

The red mist descended and he kicked the box surrounding a lineman, The kick destroyed the object, with Nalbandian’s foot also smashing the lineman’s shin.

7. Serena Williams, US Open, 2009

Williams plays on the edge, using her skill and power to intimidate opponents, and this approach has inspired the next generation of women’s tennis. That level of focus and a “play angry” attitude can occasionally make Williams step over the edge.

In 2009 she was playing badly in the US Open semi-finals. A set down, Williams was called for a foot fault and went on an epic rant against the lineswoman. The highlight, or perhaps lowlight, of the rant was Williams threatening to “shove this ball down your throat.”

6. Mikhail Youzhny, Ericsson Open, 2008

Losing a point is frustrating, but it is not the end of the world. It also shouldn’t be the catalyst for a tennis player to attempt to cave their own skull in with their racket as punishment for an errant shot hitting the net.

Youzhny was always known for being an emotional player, but causing a match stoppage to stop a bleeding forehead as a result of self-harm was unique even by his standards. The force with which he hit his own head was stunning.

5. Serena Williams, US Open, 2018

There is just something within Serena that causes her to melt down at the US Open.

Following her 2009 breakdown, Williams again spiraled out of control at the 2018 event in Flushing Meadows. After violations were given from the Portuguese umpire for "coaching from the stands" and "racket abuse," Williams blew up during a second set changeover. Calling him a “liar” and then later a “thief,” Williams did not take her defeat at the hands of Naomi Osaka well.

4. Marco Baghdatis, Australian Open, 2012

Tennis rackets the world over have been the brunt of many a meltdown. Most players are satisfied after destroying the racket that is the initial subject of their ire, but Baghdatis took racket abuse to a whole new level.

During a break between games, the Cypriot murdered no less than four of his rackets as the crowd bayed for blood. Or whatever the tennis equipment version of blood would be.

3. John McEnroe, Swedish Open, 1984

“Answer the question! The question, jerk!”

This was McEnroe at one of his most classically angry moments. A serve called long triggered the American in the semi-final of the Swedish open to go on an epic rant against the Swedish umpire. Not content to call the umpire a jerk, McEnroe then crushed a ball into the crowd and destroy his break area with a tennis racket, completing the rarely seen tennis meltdown trifecta.

2. Denis Shapovalov, Davis Cup (Ottawa), 2017

Canadian Shapovalov’s meltdown was the briefest – yet the most violent – on this list.

Annoyed at himself for hitting a shot long in a Davis Cup tie against England, Shapovalov pulled the spare ball he had in his pocket (intended for his next serve) and basically hit it as hard as he could to vent some anger. That was fine until the ball crushed the eye socket of chair umpire Arnaud Gabas at 90 mph. The good news is that the umpire was back in the chair two months later and that the two have made up.

1. John McEnroe, Wimbledon, 1981

The outspoken and outlandish former tennis star was destined to be No. 1 on this list.

McEnroe’s “You cannot be serious!” line has etched its way into popular culture in a way that no other meltdown scream ever has. From the look of pure disdain on the American’s face, right down to the incredulous tone of his voice, everything about this particular meltdown was perfect. It is not the most violent meltdown you will ever see, but it is the most iconic.