Mayhem in Melbourne: John McEnroe's 1990 default from the Australian Open is revisited

More than 36 years after John McEnroe’s default from the Australian Open in Melbourne — the first in the history of Grand Slam tournaments during the Open era — Tennis Australia is flashing back to that day in January 1990

April 22, 2026 at 9:24 p.m. EDT7 minutes ago

“You cannot be serious,” John McEnroe frequently said in what became his iconic expression during a storied tennis career that included seven Grand Slam singles titles and 10 in doubles.

Now, 36 years after his default from the Australian Open in Melbourne — the first in the history of Grand Slam tournaments in the Open era — yes, seriously, Tennis Australia is indeed flashing back to that day in January 1990 to remind longtime fans of that historic occurrence and perhaps a whole new legion of millennials who never knew it happened.

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