‘Ain’t Ever Gonna Be the Goat’ – Novak Djokovic’s Taunt Sparks Outrage Among Tennis Fans at Paris Olympics

The tennis world recently witnessed what is probably the last confrontation between two of the Big 3. Rafael Nadal, who was determined to get an Olympic medal before ending his career, had to settle for disappointment against Novak Djokovic. But for all the intensity during the match, the Serb made room for drama, by making a triggering gesture to the crowd.

The match between Djokovic and Nadal was filled with both intensity and drama, taking the fierce rivalry between the two tennis greats to new heights. The Spaniard was buoyed by an overwhelming crowd as the match was played at Stade Roland Garros, where Nadal has won 14 of his 22 Grand Slam titles.

The tension on the court was next level and that was also clearly visible in the stands. Djokovic, being himself, got frustrated by the clear preference of the crowd for Nadal and therefore made a controversial gesture by pointing to his ear after he broke Nadal’s serve, thereby giving a direct signal to the spectators. This action did not seem to go down well with the fans who later expressed their displeasure.

Novak Djokovic emerged victorious against Rafael Nadal in the second round of the men’s singles tennis tournament in a thrilling match at the Paris Olympics. The Serb secured his place in the next round with a dominant 6-1, 6-4 score. The match marked the 60th meeting between these two tennis titans, with Djokovic still holding the lead in their head-to-head record of 31-29.

Despite the tension on court, Djokovic made attempts to mend the divide after the match, sharing a heartfelt moment with Nadal after the win, as a way to acknowledge his rival’s legendary status. “We will ultimately appreciate this match very much,” Djokovic said, paying tribute to Nadal. While his words were meant to try and cool down, the fans didn’t seem to really think about it.

Fans react fiercely to Novak Djokovic for his ‘crazy’ gesture

As soon as the showdown ended, updates from Roland Garros began to make their way onto social media platforms. An active X account shared a post in which Novak Djokovic was caught performing the triggering gesture and therefore invited fans to share their thoughts on the situation.

There have been several incidents where Djokovic has been seen getting into a fight with the crowd. One fan commented, “This behavior is exactly why many people don’t like him,” by which he refers to his repeated tendency to cheer on the crowd that cheers him.

Another fan pointed to his gesture and wrote: “We love you Novak. But take your hand off your ear and be respectful to a legend. Be humble.” Rafael Nadal built a lasting legacy in Paris. The Spaniard even handed out defeats to the biggest competitors in tennis during his peak years, and that is why the fan demanded respect for Rafa.

A fan wrote, pointing out a similar incident: “Have a goooood night”. It was only a few weeks ago that Nole indulged in a similar banter with the fans during his confrontation with Holger Rune. While everyone was cheering the young Dane, Djokovic thought they were booing him and responded with a “goooood night” comment.

A fan responded: “What’s he so angry about? He’s angry at the crowd for cheering on a man who’s semi-retired and won 14 times at RG? That’s as insecure as hell.” Just as Roger Federer’s legacy is undeniable on grass, Nadal has ruled the clay courts, collecting 14 French Open titles over the course of his career, a record unmatched by anyone else.

The GOAT debate keeps coming up between the big three. One fan wrote: “That’s why he’ll never be the GOAT,” He simply points out that his arrogance is the reason fans deny that he is the best.

With these and several other remarks of a similar nature, the fans made it clear that they were not ready to tolerate the Serbian’s behavior towards the public. While the Parisian fans had every reason to side with the Spaniard, Nole had to deal with a rejection after he had achieved a victory.