The top 5 tennis tantrums


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Tennis, like other sports, can be a roller coaster of emotions which have resulted in some spectacular outbursts and on-court explosions.
 
Here are the top five tennis tantrums.
 

5. Serena Williams – 2011 US Open


The American superstar went all the way to the final where she lost to Samantha Stosur, during a match which featured her verbally abusing the chair umpire.

Williams shouted "Come on!" as Stosur attempted to return a forehand Williams believed to be a winner before the chair umpire Eva Asderaki awarded the point to Stosur based on the USTA's deliberate hindrance rule.

The six-time US Open champion became angry with the chair umpire and made several gestures and unflattering comments toward her during the next changeover. She also declined to offer the customary handshake to Asderaki at the end of the game.

Williams was fined $2,000 but was not barred from competing in the 2012 US Open because "Williams's conduct, while verbally abusive, [did] not rise to the level of a major offence under the Grand Slam code of conduct."
 

4. Martina Hingis - 1999 French Open 


The former Swiss player reached the French Open final and was three points away from victory in the second set before completely collapsing against Steffi Graf.

Before losing to Graf about whom she had said, "Steffi had some results in the past, but it's a faster, more athletic game now... She is old now. Her time has passed."

Hingis broke into tears after the final match in which the crowd had booed her for using underhand serves and crossing the line in a discussion about an umpire decision.

"I was surprised by how she reacted at times," Graf said on Baltimore Sun.

"I've never seen a player do some of the things she did out there -- come around the net. We all know it's not done and it's a game out there. Sometimes I felt for her it was more than that."

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3. Andy Roddick - 2008 US Open

 
Former American star Andy Roddick almost fought with Serbian tennis icon Novak Djokovic in the locker room after their match in the 2008 U.S. Open quarterfinals.
 
Roddick accused Djokovic of faking injuries ahead of the quarterfinal match which was won by the latter - bringing his head-to-head record with Djokovic to 1–2.
 
Djokovic then poked back at Roddick during an on-court interview after the match and the European player was booed by the fans.
 
"I was talking trash, and he came out and beat the pants off me [in the match], as he would, but then kind of chirped afterward," Roddick said on Fox Sports Live.
 
"So he comes straight [into the locker room], I went right up to him, had him up against the locker. But then I realized his trainer was a little bit bigger than Donovan and I kind of checked myself."
 

2. John McEnroe - 1984 Stockholm Open


The retired American player was known for his confrontational on-court behavior that frequently landed him in trouble with umpires and tennis authorities.

McEnroe had an on-court outburst that soon became notorious at the 1984 Stockholm Open in Sweden.
After questioning a call made by the chair umpire, McEnroe demanded, "Answer my question! The question, jerk!"

McEnroe then slammed his racquet into a juice cart beside the court in anger, and the stadium crowd booed him.

He was suspended for three weeks (21 days) for exceeding a $7,500 limit on fines that had been created because of his behavior.
 

1. Serena Williams - 2009 U.S. Open


The tennis icon has had her fair share of controversies during her illustrious career which has seen her dominate the women's game.

Williams slammed her racket on the court after losing the first set in the US Open semi-final round against Kim Clijsters.

She was given a warning, with a potential second violation carrying a one-point penalty, when the second serve was called a foot fault, resulting in two match points for Clijsters.

Williams gestured with her racket to the lineswoman who had made the call and yelled at her, hurling profanities and a threat to shove a tennis ball down the lineswoman's throat.

During the subsequent on-court conference between the chair umpire, the lineswoman, US Open officials and Williams, a television microphone picked up Williams saying to the lineswoman, "I didn't say I would kill you! Are you serious?"
 

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Published: 06/05/2020