I’ve dumped on women’s tennis enough for poor play, bad sportsmanship and on court sound effects that I thought it was high time I singled out some male pros for deviant/annoying behaviors, especially since today featured a match between two of the most hateds and a lovely piece of sexism courtesy of the AELTC. With one exception, these guys are still playing, otherwise we’d need a much longer list.
Honorable Mention – Justin Gimelstob. You know why.
6. Robin Soderling – appears here because his fellow pros hate him, not me. There are worse people (see below). Especially despised by Prince Rafa.
5. Lleyton Hewitt – the most hated player of the early part of this decade has mellowed a little at 29. Maybe we’re just inured to him since he hasn’t been sticking around tournaments for very long. But some of the old immaturity (suing the ATP) has faded away, just like his career before this week.
4. Radek Stapanek – I don’t know what his peers think, but I happen to think he’s a cad of epic proportions. He lost in five sets today when Hewitt made a comeback from two sets to love down. His transgressions include dumping Martina Hingis (either in the wake of the cocaine scandal or because he caused it) and ruining the career of Nicole Vaisidova before she even turned 20. He’s also too ugly to have gotten either of them.
3. Novak Djokovic – he’s on the list because the fans hate him, not me. In fact, I love him, although he’s reached a crucial moment in his career… it’s time to grow up Novak. Of course since King Roger and his fans wail and gnash their teeth because Novak did impressions of TMF and beat Rog at the Australian Open (“but he had MONO!”) he’ll be on the list for a good long time.
2. Fernando Gonzalez – Gonzo is well known for jerkdom. During the 08 Olympic semi versus James Blake, he refused to call a point against himself despite video evidence he lost it. At the 09 French, we were treated to the unholy spectacle of him wiping out the mark with his ass.Nastase, Connors, McEnroe and Rios would be proud… even they didn’t think of that move.
1. Dinara Safina’s Brother – Upon losing his last Wimbledon match, Marat Safin described it as “a relief.” Will you just go already? Retire and spare us from yet more bullshit as you continue to feel sorry for yourself for having more talent than 99 percent of people who have walked the face of the earth. You had as much talent as Roger Federer, the Man himself, and you blew it. Your continuing sibling non-support also earns high demerits.
Passing Shots 
Posted on June 30, 2009
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