Tennis Players Who Got Defaulted From A Tennis Match 

Tennis has always had its share of bad boys and girls –  players who argue with umpires and throw verbal abuse at them in multiple languages. But you have to do something really bad to get disqualified from a match.

Outrageous Behavior That Resulted In Default

Here are some bad behaviors that got players defaulted from their matches.  Some names deserve to be on the list, but some were just bad luck. But rules are rules, and these players got disqualified from the tournament.

2020 – Novak Djokovic

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic defaulted from the fourth-round match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the 2020 US Open. Djokovic accidentally hit a lines judge at the end of a frustrating game. The ball hit the line judge in the throat and she dropped to the ground.

Djokovic was the overwhelming favorite for the title as his primary rivals Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer had withdrawn from the US Open.

2019 – Nick Kyrgios

At the 2019 Italian Open, Nick Kyrgios was disqualified after throwing a chair on the court in anger. In the same match, he had other violations including ball abuse and unsportsmanlike conduct.

2017 – Denis Shapovalov

Denis Shapovalov hit the chair umpire unintentionally in anger in the deciding rubber of Canada’s Davis Cup match against Great Britain in 2017.  Shapovalov was trailing Edmund 3-6, 4-6,  and 1-2. Shapovalov and Canada defaulted from the match.

The umpire Arnaud Gabas suffered a fractured eye socket and had to undergo a surgery.  It will be a blemish on Shavovalov’s career but he is now friends with the umpire. 

2016 – Daniil Medvedev

Daniil Medvedev was disqualified from Savannah Challenger after questioning the impartiality of the chair umpire based on her race. His opponent in that match, Donald Young and the chair umpire Sandy French were both blacks. Medvedev said to the umpire, “I know that you are friends. I am sure about it“

2014 – Darian King

Darian King defaulted from the Charlottesville Challenger after he threw his racquet at the back screen and the racquet hit the lines judge behind the baseline. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZAeEiXozSQ

2012 – David Nalbandian 

David Nalbandian was disqualified from the final at Queens in 2012.  After his opponent Marin Cilic broke Nalbandian’s serve, Nalbandian kicked an advertising board and hit the lines judge who was bleeding from his shin.

1995 – Tim Henman

Britain was hoping Tim Henman would Wimbledon. Instead, he hit a ballgirl in anger after losing serve in a doubles match in 1995.

1990 – John McEnroe

John McEnroe has always been the bad boy of tennis. But at the 1990 Australian Open, after getting three code violations in his match against Mikael Pernfors, McEnroe was disqualified from the tournament.