{"id":298,"date":"2026-03-31T10:47:36","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T10:47:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=298"},"modified":"2026-03-31T10:47:36","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T10:47:36","slug":"volatile-tennis-icon-john-mcenroe-tells-young-fan-go-f-yourself-in-airport-rant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=298","title":{"rendered":"Volatile tennis icon John McEnroe tells young fan &#8216;go f*** yourself&#8217; in airport rant"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_548649\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">American tennis legend John McEnroe was not in the mood to take photos with a fan in Melbourne Airport following the end of the Australian Open on the weekend<\/h2>\n<p><button class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36654382\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"John McEnroe\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36654382.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_GettyImages-2236345119.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36654382.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/0_GettyImages-2236345119.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36654382.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_GettyImages-2236345119.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36654382.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_GettyImages-2236345119.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"John McEnroe is well known for his temper\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">John McEnroe is well known for his temper<cite aria-label=\"Image: Miikka Skaffari\/Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Miikka Skaffari\/Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">John McEnroe told a young fan to \u201cgo f*** yourself\u201d after losing his patience while being pestered in an airport. McEnroe was travelling through Melbourne Airport after the Australian Open when he lost his temper.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The 66-year-old American was working at the Grand Slam tournament as a commentator, watching Carlos Alcaraz beat Novak Djokovic to the men\u2019s singles title on Sunday. He headed to the airport on Monday to leave Australia, but the trip ended on a bitter note.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">McEnroe was known for his explosive temper as a player, becoming one of the original bad boys of the 1980s, and it seems that element of his personality is still alive and well. He was caught on camera having a tetchy interaction with a fan while moving through the airport.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The footage showed McEnroe getting his bags out of a car before being ushered through the airport by security. Throughout the clip, he is being hassled by a fan, who is desperately asking for an autograph and a photo.<\/p>\n<p><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_09d958\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">Novak Djokovic&#8217;s message to Carlos Alcaraz in private moment after Australian Open final<\/span><\/span><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_09d958\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">Carlos Alcaraz smashes Rafael Nadal record in stunning Australian Open win vs Novak Djokovic<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cNot right now mate,\u201d McEnroe said when first approached. \u201cCan I get a photo at least?\u201d the fan responded. The American moved off quickly with his suitcase and a guitar on his back, adding \u201chold on, wait a sec\u201d as the fan followed him down the pavement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cDo you need a hand with any of your bags?\u201d the young fan offered. McEnroe fired back sternly: \u201cI need you to stay away from me, OK?\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Undeterred, the fan followed the tennis legend through the airport, continually asking for a photo. \u201cJust get away, OK? Can we stop him? Everyone stop, time\u2019s up,&#8221; McEnroe grumbled.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The fan then tried to take a selfie with an irate McEnroe in the background as someone can be heard saying to \u201crespect his space\u201d. The fan did not get the hint and asked once again: \u201cCan I just get a photo, please?\u201d McEnroe replied: \u201cWill you stop!? Stop! Jesus Christ! Are you kidding me?\u201d<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-36654422\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36654422\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.48\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"  John McEnroe \" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36654422.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2223826355.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36654422.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_GettyImages-2223826355.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36654422.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_GettyImages-2223826355.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36654422.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2223826355.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"John McEnroe now works as a commentator\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">John McEnroe now works as a commentator<cite aria-label=\"Image: Karwai Tang\/WireImage\/Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Karwai Tang\/WireImage\/Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">As McEnroe finally escaped, the fan said: \u201cI still love you John.\u201d He replied succinctly: \u201cGo f*** yourself!\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">McEnroe remains one of the biggest stars in tennis, having won seven Major titles during his stellar playing career. But he is best known for his fierce competitiveness and rivalries with Bjorn Borg and Jimmy Connors, as well as his anger on the court.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Back in 1984, he was defaulted from a match at the Australian Open after abusing officials and smashing his racket repeatedly. The same thing happened at the 1987 Stockholm Open and McEnroe was continually fined throughout his career, which ended in 1994 in singles.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He has since embraced commentary, appearing around the world as a co-commentator and pundit, including on the BBC for Wimbledon, where he has to watch his language.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>American tennis legend John McEnroe was not in the mood to take photos with a<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":299,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-298","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-football"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/298","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=298"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/298\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/299"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=298"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=298"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=298"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}