In the ‘92 film A League of Their Own, Tom Hanks’ character, crotchety manager Jimmy Dugan, famously barks, “There’s no crying in baseball!” As Roger Federer’s emotional outpouring in Melbourne showed, the same can’t be said for tennis. Here are our top 10 tearful moments:
1. A SHOULDER TO CRY ON: The Duchess of Kent’s shoulder doubles as a virtual hanky box for a distraught Jana Novotna after the Czech famously chokes away a 6-7, 6-1, 4-1, 40-15 advantage against Steffi Graf in the ‘93 Wimbledon final.
2. PARISIAN POUT: Out-of-control Martina Hingis melts down in the unforgettable, almost surreal ‘99 French Open final against Steffi Graf. Just three points from victory, the Swiss Miss unravels and bolts off the court amid jeers and whistles after a 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 loss, only to return, sobbing in her mom’s arms.
3. TEARS FOR FEARS: The supposedly emotionally challenged Pete Sampras opens the floodgates in the fifth set of his quarterfinal matchup against Jim Courier at the ‘95 Aussie Open when a fan yells out, “Do it for your coach!” Pistol Pete’s mentor, Tim Gullikson, had mysteriously collapsed at the event and had to be flown back to the U.S., where he was later diagnosed with a brain tumor. Sampras heroically wins 6-7, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4, 6-3.
4. STINGIN’ IN THE RAIN: It somehow seems fitting that Martina Navratilova would break down in tears during a match delayed more than seven hours by rain. The not so fit legend-in-the-making is stunned by journeywoman Janet Newberry 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the first round of the U.S. Open in ‘76, and proceeds to cry. And cry. And cry some more.
5. BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS: His record-tying 14th Slam having slipped away, Roger Federer is overcome with emotion after Rafael Nadal gets the best of him in the ‘09 Aussie Open final 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-2. Says Roger, who is graciously consoled by Rafa, “It’s killing me.”
6. READ IT AND WEEP: Jennifer Capriati bravely (albeit awkwardly) reads a prepared statement to reporters at the ‘99 U.S. Open, telling them that she’s ready to “close the envelope” on her past. Says JCap, “The path I did take for a brief period of my life was not one of reckless drug use or hurting others, but a path of quiet rebellion, of a little experimentation with a darker side of my confusion in a confusing world.” But when questioned by the media, she bursts into tears and dashes out of the press conference.
7. EMOTIONAL RESCUE: A year after winning his 14th and final Slam, there’s no hiding the tears for Pete Sampras during his more-than-emotional farewell speech at the U.S. Open in ‘03. Surrounded by contemporaries McEnroe, Becker and Courier, Pete tells the crowd, “I know that it’s time to say goodbye.”
8. DON’T CRY FOR ME AGASSI-YA: Andre Agassi channels Lou Gehrig in bidding farewell to the game at the U.S. Open in ‘06. “Over the last 21 years, I have found loyalty,” says Agassi, choking back tears. “You have pulled for me on the court and also in life…You have given me your shoulders to stand on to reach for my dreams, dreams I could have never reached without you.”
9. KEEP YOUR EMOTIONS IN CZECH: More than a decade after her high-profile defection, Martina Navratilova returns to Communist Czechoslovakia as a member of the U.S. Fed Cup team. Unsure of how she’ll be greeted by her countrymen, Navratilova is moved to tears amidst chants of “NAV-RA-TIL-OVA! NAV-RA-TIL-OVA!” Teammate Chris Evert poignantly drapes an arm around her.
10. TENNIS BAWL: Serena Williams lets the tear ducts flow after falling to Justine Henin-Hardenne in the ‘03 French Open semis 6-2, 4-6, 7-5. “All my life I’ve had to fight,” confides Serena. “So it’s just another fight I’m going to have to learn how to win.”
