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'Hate this sport': Australian Open villain's on-court meltdown

Riley Morgan
·Sports Reporter
·2-min read
Tennys Sandgren (pictured right) getting frustrated and (pictured left) smashing his racquet.
Tennys Sandgren (pictured right) lost his cool and shattered his racquet (pictured left) in the Great Ocean Road Open. (Images: Channel Nine)

Controversial tennis star Tennys Sandgren suffered the first major meltdown during the 2021 season after crushing his racquet at the Great Ocean Road Open.

Sandgren was certainly vocal and made his frustration heard during his 14 days hard quarantine heard ahead of the Australian Open in Melbourne.

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But the controversial American has also let everyone know about his frustration on the court after a meltdown against Aussie John-Patrick Smith.

Facing a break point in the third set, Sandgren his a forehand into the middle of the net.

The American then yelled: “I hate this stupid sport.”

But only moments later, Sandgren lost it and shattered his racquet receiving a points violation.

Smith, World No.318, went ahead 4-3 in the third but World No.50 Sandgren regained his composure to wrap up the match.

Sangren hits out at Tennis Australia in quarantine

While the majority of the roughly 1200-string contingent of overseas players, coaches and staff are now free to explore Melbourne after completing their two weeks of isolation, Sandgren was among the 72 who have not been allowed to leave their rooms for any reason.

He was critical of Tennis Australia's quarantine set-up, and that the top players had been given more freedom in Adelaide hotels.

But being so close to being cleared to leave quarantine, the news of the requirement to remain in quarantine for one more night did not go down well.

Sandgren took to social media to openly mock Tennis Australia over the decision.

“I just found out we’re not going to be able to leave the room until midnight tomorrow which will put us out close to 15 days in this room,” he said in an Instagram video.

“That’s also another day we can’t practice.

“(Train) Saturday, Sunday, Monday, play a match on Tuesday, a match - a competitive tennis match.

“Sixteen days off, three days hitting. Tennis match. My name’s Tennis Australia and I’m sooooo cool.”

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