French Open 2023: Novak Djokovic slams Tennis fans for booing him on during gruelling clash agaisnt Alejandro Davidovich Fokina

Hours after qualifying among the top 16 in the ongoing Fresh Open 2023, top-seeded Novak Djokovic lashed out at French Open for booing him during his last night’s game against 34^th ranked Alejandro Davidovich Fokina at Court Philippe Chatrier on Friday.

Djokovic, chasing his third Roland Garros title and men’s 23^rd Grand Slam crown, outplayed his Spanish counterpart to reach the last 16 for a 14^th successive year. During an intense 3-hour long game against Davidovich Fokina, Djokovic faced ire of fans when he took medical timeout for treatment on his left thigh at the end of the second set.

"They're doing him a favor when they boo"
"If they really want Novak to not play well, they shouldn't boo" (Wilander)

"Djokovic is perfectly entitled to have the trainer on court, ADF had left the court at that point" (Henman) pic.twitter.com/FMIPcZ7lwy
— C Kristjánsdóttir ●? (@CristinaNcl) June 2, 2023

“I think the majority of the people come to enjoy tennis or support one or the other player. But there are people who love to boo every single thing you do. That’s something that I find disrespectful and I frankly don’t understand that. But it’s their right. They paid for the ticket. They can do whatever they want,” said Djokovic.

The 36-year-old, among the most prolific players in the sports’ history, hit back at spectators with a sarcastic round of applause and a thumbs-up. Djokovic even mocked his tormentors by mimicking their boos and nodding his head in acceptance.

“Up and down…there are people, groups that love to boo every single thing you do. That’s something I find disrespectful and frankly don’t understand.”

Novak Djokovic ?? describes his relationship with French crowds at RG over the years:#RolandGarros (?:FFT/SNTV) pic.twitter.com/VJtf4PqTFK
— TennisONE App (@TennisONEApp) June 2, 2023

On Friday, Djokovic had to come back from breaking both opening sets, saving a set point in the second after Davidovich Fokina had failed to serve for the first.

“At times, you know, I will stay quiet. Not at times’ – actually, 99 percent of the time, I will stay quiet. But, 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,” he added.