Tennis is a solo sport, but some players make it a team effort when it comes to blame. Whether it’s the racket, the court, the crowd, or the tournament director, these players always seemed to have a reason that didn’t involve their play.
While some stars accepted defeat gracefully, others turned every loss into a conspiracy. From on-court meltdowns to post-match press conference deflections, these are the tennis players who mastered the art of saying, “It wasn’t me.”
20. Fabio Fognini
Fognini’s fiery personality was matched only by his love of finger-pointing. The court conditions or the umpire were usually first in line to catch the blame if things went south.
19. Jelena Ostapenko
When Ostapenko’s shots didn’t land, her explanations did. Missed lines became bad luck, and losses were usually due to something outside her control.
18. Ernests Gulbis
Gulbis was known for his unpredictable game and even more unpredictable post-match comments. He never hesitated to call out everything except his performance.
17. Aryna Sabalenka
Sabalenka’s power game came with plenty of intensity, and when the wheels came off, there was always an external force at play. The conditions, the balls, the lighting—take your pick.
16. Marat Safin
Safin’s talent was undeniable, but so was his frustration. His racket took the most damage, but the blame often landed everywhere but on his game.
15. Nick Kyrgios
Kyrgios could light up a stadium or torch his game, and when the latter happened, he usually blamed someone else. Fans, officials, or even his team were frequent scapegoats.
14. Victoria Azarenka
Azarenka could bring fierce intensity, but wasn’t always quick to accept responsibility. If her game dipped, there was often a long explanation waiting.
13. Gael Monfils
Monfils dazzled with flair but sometimes dodged accountability with just as much finesse. He could lose a match and make it sound like someone else played it.
12. Caroline Wozniacki
Wozniacki was often defensive in interviews when things didn’t go her way. She quickly suggested that critics or external expectations contributed to other losses.
11. Bernard Tomic
Tomic’s career was filled with odd moments and even odder excuses. If he underperformed, you could bet on a post-match theory that left out any personal fault.
10. Jelena Dokic
Dokic had a difficult road, but when it came to results, there was always a larger story to explain away the outcome. Her post-match interviews rarely featured self-blame.
9. Tomas Berdych
Berdych had the talent to beat anyone, but often found ways to rationalize losses that didn’t involve his play. From luck to line calls, it was always something.
8. Anna Kournikova
Kournikova’s results didn’t always match the hype or post-match takes. Poor play was often brushed off with reasons that had little to do with her game.
7. Daniil Medvedev
His occasional meltdowns sometimes match Medvedev’s genius. When frustrated, he’s been known to go off on everything from the crowd to the balls to the universe.
6. Naomi Osaka
Osaka has been open about mental health, but on the court, she’s had moments where the blame game came into play. Her press conference deflections sometimes raised eyebrows.
5. Martina Hingis
Hingis was a prodigy with an attitude—and not always a gracious loser. She could quickly find flaws in everything but her strategy if she fell short.
4. Novak Djokovic
Djokovic may be an all-time great, but he’s also an all-time blamer when things go wrong. From yelling at his box to slamming the ATP, accountability isn’t always in his toolkit.
3. John McEnroe
The king of tantrums, McEnroe, spent more time yelling at umpires than looking inward. He could lose a point and argue like it was the trial of the century.
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2. Serena Williams
Serena’s greatness is unquestioned, but so is her tendency to shift blame in battle. Whether it was line judges or chair umpires, someone else often got the spotlight when things went wrong.
Read More: Ranking the 15 Most Boastful Tennis Players of All Time
1. Andre Agassi
Agassi rewrote the books on tennis stardom and post-match rationalizations. In his prime, he could lose a match and write an essay on why it wasn’t his fault—equipment, scheduling, and karma, all included.
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