As a commentator nowadays, however, McEnroe is much calmer and more sedate.

But the former multiple grand slam winner has a willing and more than capable apprentice in Australian Nick Kyrgios when it comes to on-court tantrums.

The 21-year-old was unceremoniously dumped from the Australian Open on Wednesday night, losing in five sets to Andreas Seppi - an Italian player with a singles ranking of 89 and 11 years the Australian's senior.

Kyrgios has only just returned to competition following a suspension he received for tanking at the Shanghai Masters in October. That petulant display earned Kyrgios the wrath of commentators, players and fans the world over.

His equally disappointing effort on Wednesday night on Hisense Arena again earned him plenty of detractors.

Not everyone can be born with the god-given talents of a Pete Sampras, Serena Williams or Roger Federer. 

That said, Australian sporting fans love a battler.  We do not necessarily judge people on how many titles they have won.  But we always want those people playing for their country to have a fair dinkum dip, so to speak.

We’ve never been a country that seems to care too much about the result, as long as the effort is put in.

Perhaps that’s why a player like Pat Cash will always hold such a special place in our hearts.

He never reached number one in the world (although he did win Wimbledon in 1987), but through hard work, tenacity and a determination to never give in, he was always regarded with incredible admiration.

And that probably explains why Kyrgios has failed to warm to most tennis fans.

Following two code violations against Seppi, Krygios was booed from the court following the loss, and was on the receiving end of some rather unflattering remarks on social media.

So Nick, please remember, we don’t always expect you to win. Far from it.

But when you get the opportunity to represent your country, we do expect you act with a certain level of decorum and not like a spoilt brat.

In that department, you seriously need to lift your game.