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15 Tennis Stars Who Were Built for Chaos, Not Composure

Tennis might seem like a game of elegance and grace, but occasionally, it produces players who operate more like agents of chaos. These are the ones who don’t just play the game—they disrupt, electrify, and occasionally blow it up entirely.

From wild emotional swings to on-court meltdowns and everything in between, these tennis stars brought the fire whether the moment called for it. You never quite knew what version you would get, but you knew it would be dramatic.

15. Gaël Monfils

Jun 1, 2006; Paris, FRANCE; Gael Monfils  in action against Dick Norman (not pictured) in day five action in the 2006 French Open at Roland Garros. Monfils defeated Norman in a tie breaker.
Boue/Fep/Panoramic/Imagn Images

You never know what shot he will try, nor does he. Monfils plays like a highlight reel in human form, with just enough chaos to keep everyone guessing.

14. Jelena Ostapenko

Sep 3, 2015; New York, NY, USA; Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia hits a forehand against Sara Errani of Italy (not pictured) on day four of the 2015 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

She can hit 40 winners or 40 unforced errors, sometimes both in the same set. Ostapenko doesn’t ease into matches—she storms into them like she owns the court.

13. Nick Kyrgios

Jul 1, 2014; London, United Kingdom; Nick Kyrgios (AUS) in action during his match against Rafael Nadal (ESP) on day eight of the 2014 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn and Tennis Club.
Susan Mullane-Imagn Images

If tennis had a chaos committee, Kyrgios would be the chairman. He serves underhandedly, argues with fans, and still achieves the impossible.

12. Fabio Fognini

Mar 3, 2025; Indian Wells, CA, USA; Fabio Fognini (ITA) hits a shot against Colton Smith (not pictured) during his qualifying match in the BNP Paribas open at the Indian Well Tennis Garden.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

You can almost see the thunderclouds following him around the court. Fognini has the talent to win and the temperament to combust quickly.

11. Victoria Azarenka

uly 27, 2010; Stanford, CA, USA; Victoria Azarenka (BLR) celebrates a point against Ayumi Morita (JPN), not pictured, in the first round play during the Bank of the West Classic women's tennis tournament at the Taube Family Tennis Stadium. Azarenka defeated Morita 6-0, 6-2.
Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

She brings raw intensity to every point and doesn’t hold back when things get chaotic. Azarenka thrives on emotional rollercoasters that would unravel most players.

10. Ernests Gulbis

Aug 4, 2018; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Ernests Gulbis of Latvia hits a shot against Ryan Harrison of the USA (not shown) in the Rogers Cup tennis tournament at Aviva Centre.
Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

Gulbis never quite followed the tennis script, which made him fun. He could take out a top seed or flame out in round one—there was no in-between.

9. Marat Safin

Feb 13, 2007; San Jose, CA, USA; Marat Safin (RUS) returns a shot to Scott Oudsema (USA), not pictured, in the 1st round play during the SAP Open men's tennis tournament at HP Pavilion in San Jose, CA. Safin defeated Oudsema 6-4, 7-6.
Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

A broken racquet was never far from Safin’s hand, and neither was an epic five-setter. He was a walking whirlwind of talent, nerves, and unpredictable energy.

8. Aryna Sabalenka

Mar 29, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; Aryna Sabalenka reaches for a backhand against Jessica Pegula (USA)(not pictured) in the women's singles championship of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium.
Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Power? Check. Emotion? Check. Sabalenka hits like she’s in a boxing ring and celebrates like she just knocked someone out.

7. Ilie Năstase

Ilie Năstase
Verhoeff, Bert / Anefo via Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain

Before chaos was calm, there was Năstase. He mocked umpires, clowned opponents, and turned matches into unpredictable theater.

6. Frances Tiafoe

Caption:
Mar 24, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; Frances Tiafoe (USA) serves against Arthur Fils (FRA)(not pictured) on day seven of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium.
Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Tiafoe feeds off the crowd and lives for the moment. His flashy style and emotional swings make every match a show worth watching.

5. Serena Williams

Sept 7, 2019; Flushing, NY, USA; Serena Williams of the USA reacts after a miss to Bianca Andreescu of Canada in the women’s final match on day thirteen of the 2019 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

Serena brought the storm with her power and passion. She didn’t just play her opponents—she overwhelmed them with sheer intensity.

4. Daniil Medvedev

Holger Rune hits to Daniil Medvedev during the ATP semifinals at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., Saturday, March 15, 2025.
Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Medvedev can play 20 feet behind the baseline and still win, then start talking to the camera mid-match. He’s chaos wrapped in brilliance with a side of awkward charm.

3. Aravane Rezaï

June 21, 2011; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Aravane Rezai (FRA) returns a shot against Serena Williams (USA) on day two of the 2011 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club.
Susan Mullane-Imagn Images

Without filter or hesitation, she hit every shot like it was her last. Rezaï could blast you off the court or blast herself into oblivion.

Read More: 15 Tennis Stars Who Treated Line Judges Like Mortal Enemies

2. Andre Agassi

Unknown date, 1994; New York City, New York, USA: FILE PHOTO; Andre Agassi (USA) hits a forehand groundstroke during the 1994 US Open at the USTA National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Lou Capozzola-USA TODAY Network
Lou Capozzola-USA TODAY Network

Young Agassi had the hair, the attitude, and the rebel flair to match. He hated tradition, questioned authority, and still found ways to win big.

Read More: Bad Boys (and Girls) of Tennis: The 15 Most Disliked Players

1. John McEnroe

Jul 2, 1980; London, ENGLAND; FILE PHOTO; John McEnroe (USA) prepares to return a shot during a match in the 1980 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club.
Offside Sports-Imagn Images

The original chaos king, McEnroe, turned tantrums into a tennis legend. Whether he was arguing with umpires or himself, he made sure you’d never forget his matches.

Read More: The 15 Most Electrifying Players in MLB History

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