German tennis player Alexander Zverev was kicked out of a tournament in Acapulco in February after he smashed his racket into the referee’s chair in a fit of anger, while Australian Nick Kyrgios was fined for deviating from the script at last month’s Indian Wells and Miami tournaments.
This week, the WTA warned of harsher penalties for misconduct in tournaments, but Evert says she is “concerned about the psychological well-being of male and female players”.
“I don’t make any judgments about the players, but the situation is worrying. Why do players lose their cool, break rackets and harm others?” the former player told Eurosport TV.
“Why do some people break down emotionally on the court? This is something that needs to be looked at. It is something that needs to be discussed. Tennis is a sport, not life.”
Former world number one Victoria Azarenka was knocked out of her MAME match, saying she had felt “tremendous pressure” in recent weeks.
Japan’s Naomi Osaka highlighted the mental health of male and female players when she withdrew from some major tournaments and other tournaments during the 2021 season.
Polish world number one Iga Chiantik also spoke of the pressures she faced as a result of her sudden fame after winning the 2020 French Open title at an early age.
“I’ve noticed a lot of the players are getting involved with sports psychologists,” said Evert, who has won 18 major singles titles in her career.