Who are the Most Prolific Tennis Racket Smashers?
Tennis is one of the most popular sports in the world, with millions of fans following the exploits of the world’s top players. But while the sport is often seen as a gentleman’s game, there have been some explosive moments on the court over the years. One of the main ways players have expressed their emotions is by smashing their tennis racket in frustration. So who has smashed the most rackets over their career?
1. John McEnroe
John McEnroe is widely considered to be the greatest tennis racket smasher of all time. The seven-time Grand Slam champion had a famously fiery temper, and would often let his racket do the talking when things weren’t going his way. McEnroe was known for his on-court antics, and even has a “Racket Smashing Award” named after him.
McEnroe is estimated to have smashed over 200 rackets during his career, and was even fined for the behavior on multiple occasions. He once smashed seven rackets in a single match at the 1989 French Open, leading to him being fined $20,000.
2. Jimmy Connors
Jimmy Connors is another tennis great who was known for his racket smashing. The eight-time Grand Slam champion smashed over 100 rackets during his career and was renowned for his competitive streak. Like McEnroe, Connors was often fined for his behavior and was once suspended for two months for smashing a racket during a match.
Connors was known for his explosive on-court temper, and his antics often made for entertaining viewing. He was even known to throw his racket across the court on occasion, much to the amusement of the crowd.
3. Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic is one of the best players of all time, but he is also known for his passion and emotion on the court. The 16-time Grand Slam champion is noted for his racket smashing, and is estimated to have smashed over 50 rackets during his career.
Djokovic has smashed rackets in some of the biggest tournaments, such as the French Open and the US Open, and is often fined for the behavior. The Serbian star is often seen as a role model in the sport, but his racket smashing has left some fans unimpressed.
4. Serena Williams
Serena Williams is one of the most successful players of all time, with 23 Grand Slam titles to her name. However, she is also known for her fiery temper on the court, and has been known to smash her racket on occasion.
Williams is estimated to have smashed over 30 rackets during her career, and has been fined on multiple occasions for her behavior. She has famously smashed her racket in some of the biggest tournaments, including the Wimbledon and the US Open, and her racket smashing has become part of her legacy in the sport.
5. Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal is one of the greatest players of all time, with 19 Grand Slam titles to his name. He is known for his passion and emotion on the court, and has been known to smash his racket when things weren’t going his way.
Nadal is estimated to have smashed over 30 rackets during his career, and has been fined for the behavior on multiple occasions. He is usually calm and composed on the court, but his racket smashing has become part of his legacy in the sport.
6. Roger Federer
Roger Federer is widely considered to be one of the greatest players of all time, with 20 Grand Slam titles to his name. He is known for his grace and composure on the court, and is rarely seen losing his temper.
Despite his usually calm demeanor, Federer has been known to smash his racket on occasion. He is estimated to have smashed over 10 rackets during his career, and was famously fined for his behavior at the 2012 French Open.
The Most Infamous Racket Smashing Incidents
There have been some truly remarkable racket smashing incidents over the years. Here are some of the most infamous moments:
1. John McEnroe vs. Bjorn Borg
One of the most infamous moments in tennis history came in the 1980 Wimbledon final between John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg. The match was a classic, but McEnroe was becoming increasingly frustrated as it went on. He smashed his racket in anger, and was famously warned by the umpire that he would be defaulted from the match if he did it again.
2. Jimmy Connors vs. John McEnroe
Another famous incident came in the 1984 US Open semi-final between Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe. Connors was becoming increasingly frustrated as the match went on, and he famously smashed his racket on the umpire’s chair in a fit of rage. He was fined $20,000 for the incident, but it is still one of the most memorable racket smashing moments in tennis history.
3. Novak Djokovic vs. Roger Federer
The 2010 US Open final between Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer was a classic match, and is often considered one of the greatest of all time. But Djokovic was becoming increasingly frustrated as the match went on, and he famously smashed his racket into the court in a fit of rage. He was fined $2,000 for the incident, but it is still one of the most memorable racket smashing moments in tennis history.
4. Serena Williams vs. Maria Sharapova
The 2004 Wimbledon final between Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova was a classic match, but it is also remembered for the racket smashing incident involving Williams. She smashed her racket in frustration during the match, and was famously fined $500 for the incident.
5. Rafael Nadal vs. Novak Djokovic
The 2019 French Open final between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic was one of the most memorable matches in recent memory. But it is also remembered for the racket smashing incident involving Nadal. He smashed his racket in frustration during the match, and was famously fined $3,000 for the incident.
The Top 10 Most Expensive Fines
Here is a list of the top 10 most expensive fines for racket smashing:
- John McEnroe – $20,000 (1989 French Open)
- Jimmy Connors – $20,000 (1984 US Open)
- Rafael Nadal – $3,000 (2019 French Open)
- Novak Djokovic – $2,000 (2010 US Open)
- Serena Williams – $500 (2004 Wimbledon)
- Grigor Dimitrov – $3,000 (2016 French Open)
- Tomas Berdych – $2,000 (2011 French Open)
- David Nalbandian – $8,000 (2012 Queens Club)
- Yevgeny Kafelnikov – $2,000 (1997 French Open)
- Marcos Baghdatis – $4,000 (2006 Australian Open)
The Benefits of Racket Smashing
While racket smashing is often frowned upon, there are some perceived benefits to the behavior. It is often seen as a way for players to vent their frustration and release their emotions, which can help them to focus on the match.
Racket smashing is also seen as a way for players to show their passion and emotion on the court, which can be an attractive quality for fans. It can also make for an entertaining spectacle, which can be appreciated by fans.
Conclusion
Racket smashing is one of the most explosive aspects of the sport of tennis. While it is often frowned upon, it can also be an entertaining and passionate part of the game. John McEnroe is widely considered to be the greatest racket smasher of all time, with over 200 rackets smashed during his career. Other notable racket smashers include Jimmy Connors, Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal. There have been some truly remarkable racket smashing incidents over the years, and some of the fines for the behavior can be quite hefty. Despite this, there are some perceived benefits to racket smashing, such as venting frustration and showing passion on the court.