It’s déjà vu all over again: Novak Djokovic vs. Carlos Alcaraz. But this time, it’s a now-or-never opportunity for the 24-time Grand Slam champion, as this one, is not a Grand Slam final but, the Olympics final. While the whole world is witnessing the magic and the ‘ridiculously’ intense battle, the tennis fans in Britain suffered a setback, as their show got cut off in the middle, getting angry at the BBC.

Since tennis returned to the Games in Seoul in 1988, Djokovic, at 37, would be the oldest winner of the singles competition in the Olympics. Alcaraz would be the youngest person in history at age 21. If the Serb wins, it will be his first gold medal on five tries, which would be a big improvement over the bronze he took home in Beijing in 2008.

In addition, Djokovic would be able to accomplish the Golden Slam—winning all four major championships plus an Olympic gold medal—becoming just the fifth player in history with a win. This remarkable accomplishment would solidify Djokovic’s reputation in the annals of tennis history. While the intense battle is broadcasted over various channel, the BBC channel who broadcasted the match in UK, made the British fans angry as they shared their opinions on Twitter.

British Fans upset by Novak Djokovic’s match cut short

The BBC prematurely ended the Djokovic-Alcaraz match straight after the first set, which has angered British tennis fans. Widespread indignation was triggered by the move to divert attention from the much awaited showdown, which many had been eagerly awaiting. Tennis fans expressed their annoyance on social media, accusing the network of putting other events ahead of an important turning point in the sport’s history.

Along with that, while viewers were frustrated by the BBC’s decision to broadcast only one set of the highly anticipated match before cutting away, a fan wrote, “@BBCSport are you kidding on here? Show one set of Alcaraz Djokovic then just drop it. Beyond useless.”

Another one added to the anger and highlighted how after cutting the match, they added gymnastics to it. He wrote, “#BBCOlympics coverage has been atrocious. Why would you put on the gymnastics in the middle of the tennis match between Alcaraz & Djokovic, aka the rematch that everyone wants to watch?! Now no one can watch the second set. Either keep it on BBC One or keep it on BBC iPlayer.”

Subsequently, another fan emphasized on how the decision to broadcast shooting events instead of the tennis match, combined with the absence of coverage on Eurosport, was like neglecting the more compelling tennis final, in history. In addition, a fan shared, “Disgrace who cares about the shooting when Djokovic vs Alcaraz is on, not even on Eurosport either it seems.”

Nevertheless, a fan shared his disappointment over the coverage of BBC, and wrote, “Well done, @BBCSport for cutting off the gold medal tennis match between Alcaraz and Djokovic right before the first set tiebreak.. Inept coverage.” For instance, during key tournaments such as Wimbledon and the Olympics, the network has occasionally shifted coverage to other events or programs, leaving viewers missing crucial moments in high-profile tennis clashes.

The BBC’s choice to give other sports precedence over tennis and golf sparked criticism for its coverage of the games and a lack of consideration for viewer preferences. A fan even questioned the network’s commitment to delivering high-caliber sports programming, “BBC are a disgrace with the Olympics coverage. Showing shooting and bars but can’t watch the tennis of even the golf? Are they taking the piss!”

In conclusion, there is a general trend of dissatisfaction among tennis fans, which is reflected in the continued unhappiness with the BBC’s handling of the sport’s coverage, as demonstrated by the recent chaos surrounding the Djokovic-Alcaraz match. Nevertheless, what are your thoughts on the same? Do let us know in the comment section below.