Instead, Roger Fed behaved like the gentleman he is, congratulated his opponent, spoke to the media and told fans at Wimbledon he’d be back next year. In other words, he was disappointed but didn’t act like a spoiled brat about it…
Unlike those in this highly entertaining Huffington Post highlights reel of tennis temper tantrums.
My favorite among the nine videos has to be McEnroe – just for old time’s sake.
I used to play a lot of tennis. I mean A LOT. I grew up next door to public courts and loved to hit against their backboard when I was too young to get into actual games. I continued to play right through college, where I was on the women’s varsity team, and then at tennis clubs where I won tournaments in singles and doubles. I only had one meltdown and it didn’t happen on the court. It was after I got home.
I had just played in the first round of a tournament I was supposed to win. My opponent was a woman who hit nothing but soft stuff – lobs and bloopers and junk – and I was so frustrated I lost focus and, eventually, the match. I couldn’t believe it. Neither could my opponent. And the people watching were equally stunned.
I was very polite as I shook hands at the net, then got into my car and started driving…and driving. That’s when I felt the tears – big, stupid, snot-inducing, crybaby tears – and kept driving. By the time I got to my house it was late and I was a mess.
I was such a mess that I forgot I was having guests for dinner.
They were there when I walked in. They asked what was wrong with me, given that my face was red and puffy. I said I had just lost a tennis match.
“You were crying because of tennis?” said the wife, incredulous.
I nodded.
“That’s a relief,” said the husband. “We thought somebody died.”
I was embarrassed – embarrassed enough not to have a hissy over a match ever again.
