Passions run high in sport, with professional athletes at the top of their game knowing that their life and career can hinge on one moment. But for some, that passion and adrenaline rush can combine to cause massive bursts of ego and petulance.
As is the case with Serena Williams while she was playing against Kim Clijsters in the semi-final of the United States Open. A bad line call lead to a release of vitriol in the direction of the line judge who called it and Williams was thrown out of the match.
As someone who grew up watching John McEnroe losing it during every match, this sort of behavior doesn’t surprise me. However, aiming threats and bad language at one person like this is reprehensible.
The truth is that tennis is ultimately one of the most boring sports on earth, so it’s only when things such as this occur that it livens up. Without players losing it occasionally I doubt anyone would be interested in seeing people hitting a ball back and forward to each other.
