PARIS – Novak Djokovic, the 22-time major champion, expressed his disappointment and frustration with some of the spectators at Roland Garros who continually jeered and booed him during his third-round match against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. Djokovic, known for drawing motivation from negativity, found himself at the receiving end of unwarranted criticism throughout the match, which he eventually won 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5), 6-2 in a grueling encounter lasting 3 hours and 36 minutes.
The Serbian tennis star, who has previously acknowledged his ability to feed off perceived slights and criticism, was visibly affected by the negative feedback from a section of the crowd. Following the match, Djokovic addressed the issue in a press conference, stating, “A majority of the people comes to enjoy tennis or support one or the other player. But there are individuals or groups that love to boo every single thing you do. That’s something that I find disrespectful, and I frankly don’t understand that.”
Djokovic’s frustration reached a boiling point during the match, particularly in the second set, where he was just two points away from losing. After clawing his way back, he celebrated the set victory with an exuberant display of emotion, which drew further negative reactions from the crowd. Additionally, when Djokovic took a medical timeout for a trainer to tend to his upper left leg, the fans expressed their disapproval, exacerbating the tense atmosphere.
The 34-year-old tennis star responded to the negativity by gesturing towards the crowd, sarcastically applauding, and challenging them to continue their criticism. Djokovic acknowledged that while he usually remains quiet in such situations, he believes that disrespectful behavior deserves a response. He explained, “Sometimes I will oppose that because I feel when somebody is disrespectful, he or she deserves to have an answer to that. That’s what it is all about.”
Djokovic’s victory against Davidovich Fokina propelled him into the fourth round of the French Open, where he will face Juan Pablo Varillas of Peru. With his sights set on a 23rd major championship, which would break his tie with Rafael Nadal, Djokovic aims to become the first man to secure at least three titles at each Grand Slam tournament.
In addition to Djokovic, several other seeded players advanced in the men’s draw, including top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Karen Khachanov, and Lorenzo Musetti. However, the women’s draw witnessed several upsets, with the exits of Jessica Pegula, Caroline Garcia, Maria Sakkari, and Petra Kvitova, among others. Only 12 of the top 32 seeded women made it past the second round, marking a significant upset trend at this year’s Roland Garros.
As the tournament progresses, the players will undoubtedly continue to face the pressure and scrutiny of the passionate crowds at Roland Garros. Djokovic’s ability to channel the negativity into motivation has been a defining characteristic of his career, but he also hopes for a fair and respectful environment where the focus remains on the sport itself.
