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From McEnroe to Medvedev, meltdowns on tennis courts are part of the sport’s mental challenge
Medvedev and Altmaier’s outbursts underscored how pressure and isolation can push players into costly tantrums, with Medvedev fined $42,500 in Monte Carlo.
On Tuesday at the French Open in Paris, Russian player Daniil Medvedev faced Australian opponent Adam Walton. Medvedev was fined $42,500 for smashing his racket seven times at Monte Carlo after a 6-0, 6-0 defeat to Matteo Berrettini.
Mental pressure in professional tennis has long triggered emotional outbursts from top players. Former top-five player Andrey Rublev explained the psychological toll: 'It's just the thing tennis you are alone and they are watching you.'
Last week, German player Daniel Altmaier kicked his racket into the stands during a Hamburg tournament. Historically, Serena Williams faced penalties at the 2009 U.S. Open, and Novak Djokovic was disqualified in 2020 for hitting a line judge, ending his 29-match winning streak.
Rublev's coach Marat Safin reportedly broke 1,055 rackets during his playing career. Medvedev said his outburst 'might give you a boost' after the shutout, while 36-year-old Sorana Cirstea attributed emotional breakdowns to sustaining focus 'for three long hours with all the adrenaline and the pressure.'
Top-Ranked Aryna Sabalenka transformed her game by controlling emotions that were 'destroying my game' and 'dropping dramatically.' Naomi Osaka evolved from fiery junior to quietly cursing on court; fifth-ranked Jessica Pegula reserves racket-breaking for private moments, demonstrating how elite players develop emotional management strategies.