Wimbledon is underway, with the best players in the world right now battling it out to get their name on the revered trophy.
The pressure is high, elite-level sport being played out under a scorching mid-summer sun, careers on the line and the stare of thousands of fans who’ve paid good money to see a show.
This pressure really bubbled to the surface in Wimbledon 2022’s opening round when 40th-ranked Nick Kyrgios of Australia appeared to spit toward the crowd in a shocking outburst.
The Aussie has since admitted he did in fact spit at spectators after he was incensed by their behaviour.
His unconventional act came in the middle of an epic five-set battle with the UK’s Paul Jubb. Asked after the match if he had in fact spat he said: "Of one of the people disrespecting me? Yes."
Asked if he meant to do it, he said: "Yes. I would not be doing that to someone who was supporting me."
The 27-year-old won the game, but not the hearts and minds of the fans, adding after: "The crowd was rowdy today, a couple people in the crowd not shy of criticising me so that one was for you. You know who you are."
It must be highly frustrating to have strangers in your ear non-stop when you’re trying to do your job, but Kyrgios is far from the first to lose his rag on the hallowed turf of Wimbledon...
Nick Kyrgios (2015)
What better place to start than with Mr Nick Kyrgios himself - same tournament, seven years prior.
Richard Gasquet got the better of the Aussie, who in his pure frustration opted to quit the match entirely to the heavily vocalised displeasure from the crowd.
He stopped running and hit the ball like he didn’t care, despite the booing. He even muttered “dirty scum”, although there’s a fair bit of contention over who it was aimed at (he says himself).
Tim Henman (1995)
After missing a routine volley, the English golden boy of the day was left venting his frustration.
Trying to smash the ball at the net while seeing red, our Tim clattered the ball into the ear of an innocent ballgirl, who fell to the ground.
The professional athlete's clean hitting left the girl on the floor and in tears, quickly taking the day from what was likely one of the most exciting of her life to one of the most painful.
Following insistence from Jeff Tarango, Henman and his doubles partner Jeremy Bates were disqualified.
Jeff Tarango (1995)
The same year as the infamous Henman Hit, highly vocal Jeff Tarango was involved in a controversy of his very own when he told the crowd to “shut up”, and the umpire they were “the most corrupt official in tennis”.
He then proceeded to exit court left and forfeit the match before his wife tried to slap the umpire two whole times. Fair to say old Jeff didn’t get the call back in 1996.
John McEnroe (1981)
Undoubtedly the most famous freakout in the history of Wimbledon and in fact, probably tennis altogether.
McEnroe’s famous “you cannot be serious” is etched in the tapestry of the game, a historic soundbite known by people who didn't even realise it came from tennis.
McEnroe was locked in battle with Tom Gullikson in the first round of the tournament when the umpire called his serve. In response, the incensed McEnroe called the match official “the pit of the world”. Deuce!
