In tennis, there’s no hiding behind a team—just you, your racket, and your temper. But some players still manage to find plenty of other people to point fingers at when things go wrong.
Whether it’s the umpire, the weather, the fans, or the poor soul stringing their racket, these pros have made a habit of blaming literally anyone but themselves. Let’s count down the tennis players who could give a masterclass in deflecting responsibility.
14. Fabio Fognini
When things go south, Fognini’s go-to move is unloading a verbal barrage on everything from the court surface to the birds in the sky. His flair for drama is matched only by his refusal to ever take the L quietly.
13. Jelena Ostapenko
Ostapenko can hit a winner from anywhere, but accountability isn’t usually in her arsenal. Whether it’s bad luck or bad calls, there’s always something other than her game that’s to blame.
12. Ernests Gulbis
Gulbis was once full of potential, but his press conferences were often more entertaining than his matches. He regularly blamed the tennis system, the media, and even his own coaches for his shortcomings.
11. Bernard Tomic
Tomic has blamed the sport, his motivation, and just about everything except his own effort for his fall from grace. His interviews have often sounded more like excuses than explanations.
10. Aryna Sabalenka
When she’s on, she’s unstoppable—but when she’s off, there’s usually an external reason. Whether it’s the balls, the court, or the vibe, Sabalenka’s post-match takeaways tend to point outward.
9. Nick Kyrgios
Kyrgios is tennis’s king of chaos, and he’s never been shy about blaming umpires, fans, or the ATP itself. Sometimes it feels like he’s playing five opponents at once—none of them himself.
8. Daniil Medvedev
Medvedev might be brilliant, but he can unravel in spectacular fashion. Between meltdowns about the crowd and running commentary aimed at officials, he’s made dodging blame an art form.
7. Victoria Azarenka
Azarenka’s intensity is unmatched, but when things go sideways, she tends to let everyone know who she thinks is at fault. Her on-court frustration has often overshadowed her own missteps.
6. Benoît Paire
Paire’s antics have earned him a reputation for being unpredictable and, frankly, unbothered. If there’s a racket to break or an umpire to yell at, he’s probably already doing it, while blaming everyone but Benoît.
5. Andy Roddick
Roddick’s sarcastic quips were legendary, especially when the calls didn’t go his way. He was quick to call out officials and equipment, even when it was clear his own play needed some work.
4. Caroline Garcia
Garcia has been known to let the pressure get to her, and sometimes that boils over into blame. Her team, the conditions, or the stress often get the spotlight instead of self-reflection.
Read More: 20 Tennis Players Who Made the Sport Personal
3. Alexander Zverev
Zverev has spent more time pointing fingers than pointing inward when things unravel. Whether it’s injury, scheduling, or anything else, accountability doesn’t always seem to make the cut.
Read More: 10 Tennis Players Who Argued Like They Wrote the Rules
2. Serena Williams
One of the greatest ever, Serena, still had her moments where the spotlight turned to officials and rulebook drama. When emotions ran high, the blame game sometimes overshadowed the brilliance.
Read More: 15 Tennis Stars Who Had No Business Being That Inspiring
1. Novak Djokovic
Djokovic is a tennis titan, but when the going gets tough, so do the excuses. Whether it’s crowd noise, court conditions, or conspiracies, Novak rarely looks inward first.
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