Image via Complex Original
Today, the 2013 U.S. Open starts in Queens, New York. While we're all anticipating the world-class tennis, we can't help but also look out for the inevitable tennis tantrum or two. At the 2009 Open, Serena Williams got disqualified for threatening a line judge. Remarkably, that's not the craziest player meltdown we've seen in tennis history. There have been plenty of blood, sweat, and tears poured on the court. From John McEnroe's (multiple) classic meltdown moments to Andy Roddick's best rants, we present The Most Ridiculous Tennis Tantrums in GIFs and Video.
This Is My Life!
Date: 3/25/2005
Player: Xavier Malisse
Key line: "How could you do this to me?!"
As one YouTube commentator suggested, Xavier Malisse definitely has the voice and angst in his screams to be in a death metal band. Actually, he just sounds like a cranky teenager who's mad at mom and dad because he got a black Range Rover when he wanted a blue BMW for his Sweet 16. Hey, if tennis doesn't work out, we're sure someone with E! or Bravo could find a reality TV show for him.
It's Always the Racquet's Fault
Date: 1/22/2013
Player: Serena Williams
Yo Serena, back spasms and your poor serving made you lose that day at the Australian Open, not your racquet. Cut your sponsor a break!
No Respect For the Umpire's Feelings
Date: Unknown
Player: John McEnroe
Key line: "You can't see, you're so full of shit!"
John McEnroe's sailor mouth to the rescue again! The verbal assault combined with the sulking and pouting here is McEnroe at his pissed off best.
17. Where Racquets Go to Die
Date: 11/24/2000
Player: Goran Ivanisevic
Getting disqualified for racking up code violations is one thing. It's a thing that happens in professional tennis. The keyword here is, "happens." Now breaking all of your tennis racquets so you physically can't continue the match, leading to disqualification? That doesn't happen, except in the special case of Goran Ivanisevic. His opponent couldn't spare a racquet though?
So Much Anger
Date: 1/19/2012
Player: Marcos Baghdatis
En route to an Australian Open loss, Baghdatis decided to bring that racquet (and four other racquets) down with him. Might as well destroy the evidence of a loss, right?
Mikhail Youzhny Loses It
Date: 6/3/2013
Player: Mikhail Youzhny
A racquet smash and then what appears to be pouting/crying into a towel. Well at least he didn't bloody himself this time—more on that in a bit.
Wanted For Racquet Murder
Date: 10/14/2012
Player: Novak Djokovic
Djokovic would win the Shanghai Masters Final that day, but only after cracking open a new racquet.
Someone Has Daddy Issues
Date: 3/30/2013
Player: Richard Gasquet
Key Line: "You're not my father."
Did he say "father" or "fazeur?" We were half expecting Gasquet to pull out a croissant and a cigarette too.
Serena Is Into Ball-Gags
Date: 9/12/2009
Player: Serena Williams
Key line: "If I could, I'd take this fucking ball and shove it down your fucking throat!"
Are those words a death-threat from Serena, or just a very harsh talking to? After she was disqualified for the "threat," she was stunned, telling the line judge, "I did not threaten to kill you. Are you serious?" If Serena Fucking Williams—one of the fiercest athletes on the planet—said she wanted to shove an object down our throats, we'd take it pretty seriously. You don't fuck with that woman. Fellow American hot heads like Andy Roddick and John McEnroe were able to get by through insults and screaming, but compared to Serena's threat to do actual harm, they're saints.
David Nalbandian Kicks the Line Judge
Date: 6/17/2012
Player: David Nalbandian
How insane is this? During the 2012 Aegon Championship Final at the Queen's Club, David Nalbandian become so frustrated with himself that he kicked the line judge! He probably wasn't trying to strike or harm the judge, but bro, control your anger! Nalbandian was subsequently disqualified from the match, docked $69,910 and 150 ATP ranking points, and was handed down an assault charge. Next time, we suggest kicking a racquet, or any other inanimate object. You know, not a poor old line judge.
You've Been Warned
Date: 11/4/2011
Player: Andy Roddick
Key line: "Have you given me a warning yet?"
One of Andy Roddick's funnier tantrums for sure. LOL at the commentator calling Roddick's racquet smash a "pretty decent effort."
Lleyton Hewitt's Racially Charged Remarks
Date: 9/1/2001
Player: Lleyton Hewitt
Key line: "Look at him. Look at him and you tell me what the similarity is. Just get him off the court."
After being called for two foot faults by a black linesman, Lleyton Hewitt demanded that the linesman be removed. Hewitt claimed that there were no racial undertones to his quote, but let's cut the bullshit—he was clearly inferring that because his opponent, James Blake, was black, that Blake was gaining an unfair advantage from the black linesman based on the color of his skin. While that's not racist per sey, it was wrong and ignorant for him—as a professional commenting on another professional-to suggest such a thing. Hewitt would go on to win the U.S. Open title the following week.
Code Violation: Being John McEnroe
Date: 1984
Player: John McEnroe
Key line: "Answer my question! The question, jerk!"
John McEnroe just couldn't help himself. After popping off on the umpire, he teed off on some plastic cups. Those two code violations in under a minute cost him a game, but certainly fired up American tennis fans everywhere.
Tarango's Corruption Allegations
Date: 1995
Player: Jeff Tarango
Key line: "You are the most corrupt official in the game and you can't do that!"
Going into a Wimbledon third round match, Jeff Tarango had his reservations about chair umpire Bruno Rebeuh. He stormed off the court after racking up repeated code violations for arguing an ace call, and then went on to deliver one of the most bizarre and charged press conferences in tennis history. He claimed that Rebeuh was making friends with different players by "giving" them matches.
Tarango brought these allegations to tournament officials, and was assured that Rebeuh wouldn't chair any of his matches if he kept quiet. So much for that. The kicker, however, was the appearance of Tarango's wife at the press conference, where she confirmed that she had slapped Rebeuh after the match. Although Tarango was fined $63,000 and banned from the following Wimbledon, he would be vindicated in 1997, when Rebeuh was fired from the ATP tour.
Don't Tell Roger Federer To Be Quiet
Date: 9/14/2009
Player: Roger Federer
Key line: "Don't tell me to be quiet okay? When I want to talk I'll talk. I don't give a shit."
During a 2009 U.S. Open match against Juan Martín del Potro, the usually cool and collected Roger Federer had some sharp words for the umpire after a del Potro took his time to challenge a call. Don't mess with the Feds.
You're Outta Here!
Date: 1/26/2002
Player: Jennifer Capriati
Key line: "Shut the hell up. He's standing on the fucking line right there, he's not doing his job."
Jennifer Capriati was taking no prisoners during the 2002 Australian Open Final against Martina Hingis. She would rally to win the match after this incident, with no help from the linesperson of course.
There's Blood Everywhere
Date: 4/3/2008
Player: Mikhail Youzhny
We don't condone self-harm, but for the first time in the history of player-racquet incidents, the racquet went unharmed.
Andy Roddick Questions Human Biology
Date: 1/3/2008
Player: Andy Roddick
Key line: "Do you have ears? Are they connected to your head? Use them."
Any chance that Andy Roddick was involved in his school's debate club growing up? Roddick's debate and tennis skills would ultimately fall flat that day, as he lost to 29th-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber at the Australian Open.
The Tantrum To End All Tantrums
Date: 5/15/2013
Player: Viktor Troicki
Key line: "There is no space! Gimme the camera, I tape it."
There's a reason why instant replay technology for tennis exists... It's so that the player doesn't have to phyiscally grab a television camera, point to the spot of the error, and complain for all to plainly see. We would applaud Troicki for his entertainment and pursuit of justice for the truth, except he just got hit with an 18-month doping ban. Sucks to suck.
You Cannot Be Serious!
Date: 1981
Player: John McEnroe
Key line: "You cannot be serious! It was on the line!"
The classic tennis tantrum. The gasp that came over the crowd when McEnroe injected more emphasis second "cannot" is legendary. It's like the Wimbledon crowd had never heard a man yell that way before. A fired up McEnroe would go on to win that 1981 Wimbledon Championship.
