The Most Jaw-Dropping Tennis Meltdowns of All Time
By
Richard Janvrin
Contributor Updated: 13 June 2024
Richard Janvrin Contributor
Richard has been writing about sports since he was a teenager. Still, his first professional role came in 2015, covering all things NFL and fantasy football-related. From there, in December 2018, he started in the sports betting industry, covering sportsbook reviews before arriving to where he is today.
The Most Jaw-Dropping Tennis Meltdowns
Other than doubles play, tennis is a single-player sport, and sometimes, the athletes get extremely hard on themselves or the official amid the competition leading to insane tennis meltdowns.
However, it’s never a fun time when you wager at online sportsbooks with tennis markets that result in your playing getting defaulted or hit with points penalties.
That said, there’s been countless headline-worthy tennis player meltdowns over the years, and here, we’ll explore the top 10 most insane freakouts.
The angriest tennis player always makes for awesome entertainment. Let’s dive in.
- Biggest Tennis Player Meltdown (Female): 1. Serena Williams at 2009 U.S. Open
- Biggest Tennis Player Meltdown (Male):2. John McEnroe at 1982 Wimbledon
- 3. John McEnroe at 1984 Stockholm Open
- 4. Denis Shapovalov at 2017 Davis Cup
- 5. Jimmy Connors at 1991 U.S. Open
- 6. Tim Henman at 1995 Wimbledon (Doubles)
- 7. Jeff Tarango at 1995 Wimbledon
- 8. Jonas Bjorkman at 2007 Wimbledon
- 9. John McEnroe at 1990 Australian Open
- 10. Daniil Medvedev at 2020 ATP Cup
Biggest Tennis Player Meltdown (Female): 1. Serena Williams at 2009 U.S. Open
When it comes to tennis meltdowns, nothing may ever top this.
During the 2009 U.S. Open, Williams faced unseeded and unranked Kim Clijsters.
Williams was called for a fault and then a foot fault on the next try.
She argued with the service then but then eventually just flew completely off the handle, including yelling at the lineswoman, saying something not-so-nice to her.
Imagine having a bet on the US Open tennis during that match?
This came after Serena received a warning for racquet abuse.
After the outburst, the lineswoman runs to the umpire, and eventually, officials come over asking the lineswoman what Williams said.
She then goes over to the group and asks the lineswoman if she is scared because she yells at her mockingly.
Williams was defaulted and fined $10,500.
Biggest Tennis Player Meltdown (Male): 2. John McEnroe at 1982 Wimbledon
This is perhaps the most legendary McEnroe incident of all time and he epitomizes a “mad tennis player.”
One of his serves was called out. McEnroe turned around, the umpire defended the call, and McEnroe cited the chalk flying up off the ground as to why it was in.
The umpire further explains his ruling, which the broadcasters later said was on McEnroe’s side.
McEnroe shouted the legendary line here: “You cannot be serious, man. You cannot be serious!”
He then asked the umpire, Edward James, how many he would miss.
McEnroe would receive penalties but go on to defeat Bjorn Borg.
3. John McEnroe at 1984 Stockholm Open
Another McEnroe classic was at the 1984 Stockholm Open.
McEnroe disputed a call about the ball being on the line.
“No mistakes so far in this match, right? You haven’t overruled anything. No mistakes whatsoever,” McEnroe starts.
Then, after not getting a response, he yells, “Answer my question! The question, jerk!”
The crowd then boos him.
Later in the match, one of his balls is called out again, and McEnroe flies off the handle, striking his bag with his racquet and what looked like various beverages.
4. Denis Shapovalov at 2017 Davis Cup
This tennis player meltdown could arguably be higher on the list, but of course, the outcome was unintended.
During the 2017 Davis Cup, in frustration, Shapovaolv, 19 at the time, hit a ball out of anger that just so happened to fly in the direction of the umpire at 90 miles per hour.
Shapovalov was defaulted, and the man huit, Arnaud Gabas, suffered a fractured eye socket and needed surgery.
5. Jimmy Connors at 1991 U.S. Open
At 39 years old, Connors had a sensational run at the 1991 U.S. Open and during a match against Aaron Krickstein, Connors hit an overhand shot the umpire called out.
Connors, likely influenced by the crowd’s reaction, rushed over to the umpire’s chair and called him a bum repeatedly. He even said he was “playing his butt off at 39 years old, and you’re gonna do that?”
It’s also hilarious that he freaks out, and instead of using an expletive, he keeps using the term “butt” making this one of the more hilarious tennis tantrums.
6. Tim Henman at 1995 Wimbledon (Doubles)
We’ll have another 1995 Wimbledon incident on this list, but here, we’re adding Tim Henman during a doubles match.
Henman was viewed as a hopeful competitor for the United Kingdom.
In this match, he was disqualified after hitting a ball in anger that hit a ball girl. He seemed relatively composed after the fact, but still, the damage was done.
The best part? His opponent was Jeff Tarango, who was next on our list.
7. Jeff Tarango at 1995 Wimbledon
Oh, Jeff Tarango.
This guy had quite the reputation but wasn’t the angriest tennis player of all time.
He cheated in juniors and had a poor attitude as a pro, and that continued at Wimbledon in 1995.
Tarango said he had an ace, but the umpire disagreed. The crowd then began heckling Tarango, and he turned to them and told the crowd to shut up.
He then disagreed with the umpire, asked for the supervisor, and called the official corrupt. He received another code violation and ultimately walked off the court and quit the match.
That was the first time a player ever quit in a major tournament match.
As you can probably guess, Tarango was eventually banned from Wimbledon altogether.
8. Jonas Bjorkman at 2007 Wimbledon
This one wasn’t as dramatic as some on this list, but there’s something more eye-popping when you hear someone who doesn’t speak your native language just go absolutely ballistic.
During 2007 Wimbledon, Jonas Bjorkman was playing Tomas Berdych. During the match, after hitting it back to Berdych but instead hitting the net, Bjorkman is heard shouting something in Swedish.
It would later be revealed he called the umpire a “f****** maniac.”
He didn’t receive a violation because the umpire didn’t know what he said.
9. John McEnroe at 1990 Australian Open
Facing off against Mikael Penfors, McEnroe was ultimately disqualified at the 1990 Australian Open.
McEnroe is known for his outbursts (he’s already made this list once), and here is another famous example.
This was his second time in Australia, later in his career, and during the fourth round.
He received violations for intimidating a lineswoman, smashing his racquet, and swearing at the tournament umpire and referee.
McEnroe thought the cap on warnings was four before he would be disqualified, but the rule recently changed.
Thus, despite a massive lead, Penfors won.
McEnroe was fined $6,500.
10. Daniil Medvedev Hits Umpires Chair
Rounding out our tennis meltdowns list involves Daniil Medvedev.
During a match with Diego Schwartzman at the ATP Cup in 2020, Medvedev got into a verbal altercation with the umpire, which included him smashing his racquet off of the umpire’s seat.
Medvedev won the first set and was down four games to three in the second set when the back and forth with the umpire came, but following the first set, Medvedev is seen taunting/saying something to Schwartzman.
Then, during the second set, he’s given a warning, and the umpire cites that first interaction.
The umpire is seen using his hands, mimicking a mouth, saying that’s what Medvedev is doing to the other team, and then he hits his racquet off the chair.
After a bit more of a back and forth, Medvedev asks for confirmation about a warning, the umpire says yes, he hits the chair with the racquet again.
Team Russia was hit with a one-point penalty.
