5 worst temper tantrums on the tennis court
Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny hit himself in the head with a racquet in anger Some tennis players are the pinnacle of calm. With their composed behaviour on and off-court, they become model citizens in sport and outside of it.And then you have the ones who become notorious for their behaviour on court. Point doesnât go your way? Flummoxed by your competitorâs shot? On the losing side of the net? Some players react to that with rage, breaking racquets, threatening umpires and storming off court.Here are 5 times raging tennis players sent both balls and tempers flying across court:
#5 Serena Williams loses her cool at a lineswoman, US Open 2009
She's now World No. 1 again after a dominant 2014 and 2015, seasons which saw her steamroll nearly every opponent in her path. Serena Williams is one of the greatest in the game, and has the records to show for it.
With 21 Grand Slams in the singles, 13 in the doubles and 2 in the mixed doubles, there really is nothing Serena cannot play – and it is not without reason that she even has a record – the Serena Slam – named after her.
Williams has never been a shrinking violet, and is known for being one of the few players to unabashedly speak their minds regardless of the situation. She was also known for a significant period of time for her incendiary temper, which she appears to have calmed somewhat in recent years.
Prevented from a 2015 Calendar Slam by Flavia Pennetta at the US Open and this year by Germany’s Angelique Kerber, in 2009, Williams had been reigning champion at the US Open. As the 2nd seed at that tournament behind former No. 1 Dinara Safina, Serena had a relatively easy route to the semi-finals, where she was up against former champion Kim Clijsters.
Despite having won the women’s singles at Flushing Meadows in 2005, Clijsters was playing the tournament in 2009 unseeded and as a wildcard.
Clijsters had already won the first set 6-4, and was leading Williams 6-5 in the much-closer second. Serena was trailing 15-30 when the umpire called a foot fault, with the American now down match point.
And it was at this moment that an incensed Williams unleashed a volley of verbal abuse at the lineswoman who made the call, with the entire melee leading to Williams being handed a point penalty – at match point, giving Clijsters the win instantly.
Although it is unclear what exactly Williams said, microphones on court later caught her saying “I never said I would kill you!” to the lineswoman.
Williams spoke sarcastically of the incident following the tournament as well, saying in an interview “"All year, I've never been foot-faulted and then suddenly in this tournament they keep calling foot faults," she said. "I haven't been called for a foot fault all year until I got to New York, so maybe when I come to this tournament I have to step two feet back."