The tennis world recently witnessed probably the last showdown involving two of the Big 3. Rafael Nadal, who was highly determined to secure an Olympic medal before marking an end to his career, had to settle with disappointment against Novak Djokovic. However, besides the intensity during the match, the Serb made way for drama, unleashing a triggering gesture towards the crowd.

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

The tension on the court was next level and it was well reflected in the stands as well. Djokovic, being himself, got frustrated by the crowd’s clear preference for Nadal and therefore made a controversial gesture by pointing to his ear after breaking Nadal’s serve, directly signaling to the spectators. This act didn’t seem to sit well with the fans who later voiced their displeasure.

Novak Djokovic emerged victorious over Rafael Nadal in the second round of the men’s singles tennis tournament in a gripping matchup at the Paris Olympics. The Serb secured his position in the next round with a dominant scoreline of 6-1, 6-4. This match marked the 60th meeting between these two tennis titans, with Djokovic still leading their head-to-head record 31-29.

Despite the on-court tension, Djokovic made attempts to mend fences after the match. He shared a heartfelt moment with Nadal post-victory, as a measure to acknowledge his rival’s legendary status. “We will eventually appreciate this match very much,” Djokovic said, paying tribute to Nadal. Although his words were aimed at attempting a cool down, fans didn’t really seem to consider it.

Fans treat Novak Djokovic with fierce comments over his “mad” gesture

As soon as the showdown came to an end, the updates from Roland Garros started to make way on social media platforms. An active X account shared a post in which Novak Djokovic was captured performing the triggering gesture and therefore invited the fans to drop their thoughts on the situation.

There have been several incidents where Djokovic was seen indulging in a feud with the crowd. A fan commented, “This behavior is exactly why many people don’t like him,” pointing at the repetitive tendency to trigger the crowd that cheers against him.

Another fan, pointing at his gesture, wrote, “We love you Novak. But, take your hand off your ear and be respectful to a legend. Be humble.” Rafael Nadal built an enduring legacy in Paris. The Spaniard served defeats to even the biggest competitors in the tennis scene during his peak years and therefore the fan demanded respected for Rafa.

A fan, pointing at a similar incident, wrote, “Have a gooooooood night”. It was just a few weeks ago when Nole indulged in a similar banter with the fans during his showdown against Holger Rune. While everyone was simply cheering the young Dane, Djokovic thought they were booing at him and therefore replied with a “goooood night” comment.

A fan commented, “What’s he so mad about? He resents the public over cheering for a guy that’s semi-retired and has won 14 times at RG? That’s insecure as heck.” Just like Roger Federer’s legacy is undeniable on grass, Nadal has ruled the clay courts. During the course of his career, he gathered 14 French Open titles, a record that no one else could match.

The GOAT debate consistently keeps coming up between the big threes. A fan wrote, “That’s why he ain’t ever gonna be the GOAT,” simply pointing at his arrogance being the reason because of the fans’ denial of him being the greatest.

With these and several other comments on a similar note, the fans made it clear that they were not ready to tolerate the Serb’s behavior towards the crowd. While the Parisian fans had all the reasons to side with the Spaniard, Nole faced a snub event after securing a win.