From McEnroe to Medvedev, meltdowns on tennis courts reflect the mental challenges of the sport

PARIS (AP) — The tennis season has started warm up with the French Open in progress. That means that racket-crushing moments can’t be far away.

In a sport known for its mental challenges, it’s part of the game to see top players lose their cool on the field. In recent weeks, Daniil Medvedev and Daniel Altmaier have each had memorable, racket-shredding meltdowns on Europe’s clay courts.

But it’s nothing new, as everyone remembers John McEnroe decades ago can testify to this.

So what happens in players’ minds that results in tantrums in packed stadiums?

“It’s not about tennis,” said former top five player Andrei Rublev, known for his anger on the court. He sometimes bloodies his hands and body when he hits the strings of his racket and hits his knees to get the frustration out.

“Everyone (people) has this situation in life and you just lose it,” added 13th-ranked Rublev, whose coach, Marat Safin, said he broke 1,055 rackets during his playing days.

“It doesn’t have to be tennis. It’s just the thing (in) tennis that you’re alone and they’re watching you,” Rublev said. “Some people face it better, others let those emotions control you. I’m one of those guys who lets those emotions take over.”

Medvedev, a fellow countryman, is the same way.

Medvedev smashed his racket into the red clay seven times in a row midway through an unusually poor performance by the former No. 1 player at the start of the clay-court season – a 6-0, 6-0 ‘double bagel’ defeat to Matteo Berrettini at the Monte Carlo Masters.

Medvedev ended his angry display by depositing his mutilated body in a trash can on the right.

“When I broke the racket, (I) actually didn’t want it,” Medvedev said. “Usually when I do it, I want to do it. I didn’t want to do that. But I thought, ‘You know, it’s 6-0, 6-0. I can’t win a point.’ Maybe this can give you a boost sometimes. And that didn’t happen.”

Last week the German player Altmaier hit the clay with his racket and then kicked the frame into the stands when his frustration boiled over during a tournament in Hamburg. He was fortunate that no spectators were injured by his behavior.

Federer, Serena and Djokovic had their moments

Even Roger Federer was known to smash his racket as a junior player. He then improved his act and became one of the most stylish – and most successful – players in tennis history.

At the 2009 US Open, Serena Williams was punished for shouting and cursing at a line judge who called a foot foul.

In 2020, Novak Djokovic was kicked out of the US Open for accidentally hitting a linesman in the throat with a ball, resulting in a stunning end to his 29-match winning streak.

Sabalenka’s emotions ‘destroyed my game’

High-ranking Aryna Sabalenka She is also known to lose her cool. Although she has gotten better in that area lately.

“My emotions destroyed my game and my level dropped dramatically when I overreacted to everything,” Sabalenka said. “At the same time, my opponents would see that and they would intervene and play better.”

Sabalenka said that keeping her emotions in check “has been a huge improvement over the years in my career and has really helped me reach the next level.”

When Coco Gauff is off the field racket-crushing moment at the Australian Open was caught on camera, it opened a debate about player privacy.

Jessica Pegula, who is ranked fifth, also tends to leave her racket banged for off-court moments.

“I’m going to find a place where maybe there aren’t people around, and then I can make a racket,” Pegula said.

On the field, Pegula knows how to keep her emotions under control.

“I’m not a super emotional person in general, so I think it’s a lot of fun to get to that point, but I think it’s entertaining,” Pegula said. “Sometimes I wish I could wear my heart on my sleeve a little more and show more emotion, but it’s not really my personality.”

Naomi Osaka curses under her breath

Naomi Osaka is another player known for his steady attitude on the field. Although that wasn’t always the case.

“To be honest, I had a pretty bad attitude when I was younger and my dad had a stern talk with me about it,” Osaka said.

Osaka is now releasing her anger so quietly that it is barely noticeable.

“I actually curse a lot on the court,” Osaka said. “I say it so softly that you can’t hear it and I’m very happy with that, because I don’t want to get fined for that.”

Sorana Cirstea, the 36-year-old who this week became the oldest player to make her debut in the top 20, had a simple explanation for all the displays of emotion.

“It’s such a mental sport. And to be able to maintain that mentality for three hours with all the adrenaline and pressure, sometimes you don’t handle it very well,” Cirstea said. “We are human.”

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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis