Tennis crowds usually cheer for brilliance, sportsmanship, and underdogs—but sometimes, they just want a villain to boo. Over the years, a select group of players have earned the ire of fans for everything from bad behavior to trash talk to simply winning too much.
Whether they smashed rackets or rubbed people the wrong way, these 15 players often walked onto the court with boos ringing in their ears. Love them or hate them, they made tennis more dramatic, more unpredictable, and way more entertaining.
15. Jelena Ostapenko
Ostapenko has a fiery game and an even hotter temper, which hasn’t always gone over well with fans. Her constant arguing with officials and occasional coldness toward opponents have made her a frequent target for boos.
14. Lleyton Hewitt
Known for his relentless competitiveness and loud “C’mons!”, Hewitt wasn’t exactly subtle on the court. Some fans found his intensity thrilling, but many others found it downright obnoxious.
13. Martina Hingis
Hingis’ early success was paired with a cocky, sometimes smug attitude that rubbed crowds the wrong way. She often made headlines for her words as much as her tennis, and not always in a good way.
12. Bernard Tomic
Tomic’s public lack of motivation and questionable effort turned fans off quickly. When you admit you’re bored playing Wimbledon, the crowd tends to take it personally.
11. Nick Kyrgios
One of the most polarizing figures in tennis, Kyrgios can be dazzling one moment and disinterested the next. His frequent meltdowns, tanking, and confrontational style have earned him as many boos as cheers.
10. Maria Sharapova
Sharapova’s icy demeanor and long-standing doping suspension left many fans with a sour taste. Even when she was winning, she rarely seemed interested in winning people over.
9. Jimmy Connors
Connors thrived on being the bad guy and often played to hostile crowds with a grin. His brash attitude, taunts, and endless intensity made him a villain fans loved to hate.
8. Victoria Azarenka
Azarenka’s infamous on-court grunts and occasional injury time drama led to plenty of groans from the stands. Her style of play wasn’t the issue—it was how she went about it that ticked people off.
7. Fabio Fognini
Fognini’s talent is undeniable, but so are his temper tantrums. Fans have watched him yell at umpires, throw shade at opponents, and generally act like tennis’s resident drama king.
6. Serena Williams
Serena is one of the greatest ever, but she hasn’t always been universally loved. Some controversial moments—especially in finals—led to loud and divided crowds, with boos ringing out even at her best.
5. Daniil Medvedev
During his rise to the top, Medvedev relished playing the heel, even egging on booing crowds. He called the fans out, smirked at their boos, and somehow made it all part of the show.
4. Aryna Sabalenka
With her intense energy and confrontational vibe, Sabalenka has drawn mixed reactions from fans. Some love her fire, but others think she takes it a step too far.
3. Novak Djokovic
Despite his accomplishments, Djokovic has long had a complicated relationship with fans. Whether it’s his on-court antics, pandemic controversy, or chasing down Federer and Nadal, the crowd hasn’t always been in his corner.
Read more: Ranking the 15 Most Intimidating Tennis Players Ever
2. John McEnroe
McEnroe’s tirades are legendary, and fans loved to hate him for them. The “you cannot be serious” guy turned crowd tension into an art form.
Read more: 20 Quarterbacks Who Thrived on Getting Booed
1. Ilie Nastase
Nastase was tennis’s original bad boy, constantly pushing the limits of decorum. His wild antics and crude comments often made the crowd turn on him, and he didn’t seem to mind one bit.
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