There is a reason why the clay courts of Roland Garros are known to be Rafael Nadal‘s playground. After all, the Spaniard has clinched 14 titles at the prestigious event. However, most recently, Rafa was unable to do justice to his famed ‘King of Clay’ stature. The former World No. 1 locked horns with Serbian giant Novak Djokovic for a ‘last dance’ at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Monday, July 29. Although the tennis titans’ contest answered fans’ prayers for their much-awaited clash, they were seemingly displeased when a publication painted Djokovic in the wrong light.

In the 60th chapter of their career meet, the Spaniard went down fighting Nole in the second round of the quadrennial event. The highly-anticipated spectacle at Court Philippe Chatrier saw Djokovic outclass the Spanish star in a two-set showdown, 6-1, 6-4. Furthermore, Nadal confirmed his attendance in the singles event at the eleventh hour. And there was a good reason for that.

After scripting an opening-round victory while making his doubles debut with countryman Carlos Alcaraz, Nadal was skeptical about his contest with the Serbian. He was troubled with a lingering right thigh injury concern. However, the 38-year-old strapped a bandage on his thigh as a preventive measure and walked onto the court for the duel. Despite overcoming all odds, he was shown the door.

Following Djokovic’s victory, the crowd was witnessing roaring in cheers for the Serbian’s triumph. In hopes of mildly celebrating the occasion, the World No. 2 enacted playing violin on his racket. This, notably, was the Serb’s gesture to his daughter Tara, who has been learning violin all summer. However, one publication in particular seemingly took Nole’s sweet fatherly act as a disrespect to Nadal.

This, in turn, wasn’t taken kindly by tennis fans.

“Pathetic”: Fans slam online publication for criticizing Novak Djokovic following Rafael Nadal clash

Following Djokovic’s violin tribute to his daughter at the Olympic Games, ‘Sports Illustrated’ seemingly took a potshot at the Serb for snatching ‘Nadal’s moment’. Though Nole’s post-match act had nothing to do with the Spaniard, SI opined otherwise. This, in turn, caught tennis fans’ attention who took to their official X handles to comment on the situation.

One user sarcastically remarked how Djokovic was wrong to enact anything remotely sweet for his daughter after she cheered for her dad in a pro-Nadal environment. “How dare Novak had a father-daughter moment with his little girl, who never stopped smiling, surrounded by people cheering against her dad? How dare Novak think of his daughter instead if thinking of his haters? This is a new low.”

While acknowledging Djokovic’s attempt at having a father-daughter moment, another fan blasted the publication for “vilifying” the Serb’s act. “Imagine vilifying the way a father celebrates in a special way with his nine-year-old daughter. Pathetic.” However, one tennis fan took pleasure in seeing the publication getting irked with Djokovic’s act by saying “Love that they are irritated.”

Another pointed out how he only did it for a moment as a gesture for his daughter, “He played it for like half a second! The only one irritated seems to be Mike.” Another questioned the title of the article, proclaiming that it was the winner’s moment,“Why was it “Nadal’s moment”🤔 Novak won. Surely it was the winner’s moment, if it was anybody’s?

Rafael Nadal and compatriot Carlos Alcaraz are currently scheduled to take on Dutch talents Tallon Greikspoor and Wesley Koolhof. They will face the doubles pair in the second round of the Games on Tuesday, July 30. With this, the Spanish legend still has a good shot at concluding his dream run by clinching a gold medal for his nation in Paris!