Novak Djokovic is back in a familiar territory once again. The Serbian is back in the center of attention, getting booed by fans at Grand Slams.
This time, it was Roland Garros during the second-round match against Valentin Royer. When the chair umpire asked the fans to show respect for both players, Djokovic couldn't hold back and showed anger towards the booing fans.
They have no respect, they have no respect.
They have no respect, they have no respect.
Djokovic is known for dealing with hostile crowds in the past. In 2024, he took a huge swipe at the Wimbledon crowd after winning his fourth-round match against Holger Rune.
Outside of that, there are multiple instances, like the 2019 Wimbledon final against Roger Federer. Moreover, there were many matches against the Swiss legend and Rafael Nadal in which he was vilified.
If Novak Djokovic didn't have enough taking out his energy towards the crowd, his opponent, Valentin Royer, wasn't escaping from his outbursts either. Early in their fourth set, Royer won a net-cord point, which was celebrated by the crowd. Courier said:
Djokovic wanted an apology for the return that Royer hit off of the tape that stayed in the net. So that's what the little discussion back and forth at the end of this rally was about. Royer pumps his fist but doesn't offer an apology in advance. Novak says 'Hey buddy, you owe me one.' Which Royer then turned around and gave him one. He has poked the bear.
However, Royer didn't give any apology, which many fans would expect. Djokovic took exception to that and urged Royer to apologize, then sarcastically applauded him.
Djokovic has now dropped a set in both of his opening matches at Roland Garros. This doesn't sit well with his 39-year-old body if he wants to be fresh for the final-round matches in Paris.
Novak Djokovic first cracked the top 5 back in 2007. Nearly two decades later, he's still there. That kind of consistency requires more than talent as it demands discipline, recovery routines, mental strength, and constant adaptation. The depth of men's tennis has increased dramatically, yet Djokovic keeps producing strong performances at Slams, including five straight major semi-finals at one point.
His rivalry with younger players highlights this generational bridge. Matches against Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner test his physical limits, but his best-of-five-set experience often gives him an edge in long battles. Injuries have slowed him at times, yet he finds ways to peak when it matters most.
Off the court, his PTPA efforts reflect a broader vision for the sport. While the execution drew criticism, his stated goal was to help players outside the top echelon. These comments on the French TV show suggest he's still processing how that was received and wants to set the record straight.
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