Novak Djokovic reacted angrily to crowd boos after defeating Valentin Royer in four sets at the French Open 2026.
Djokovic lashes out at Roland Garros crowd boos/ Credit: French Open
Serbian great Novak Djokovic overcame a hostile atmosphere at Roland Garros before venting frustration at the crowd following his four-set win over France’s Valentin Royer in the second round of the French Open 2026.
Djokovic secured a 6-3, 6-2, 6-7(9), 6-3 victory in a physically demanding encounter but faced consistent boos from sections of the Paris crowd throughout the match. At one point, after the umpire called for calm, Djokovic responded emotionally, saying, “They have no respect, no respect.”
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He also added on court, “I hope I won’t play any more French players for the rest of the tournament,” reflecting his frustration with the atmosphere.
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Despite the tension, the match began in dominant fashion for the three-time Roland Garros champion, who controlled the opening two sets with precision and depth. However, Royer fought back strongly, forcing a third-set tie-break and saving a match point at 6-5, with the home crowd rallying behind him.
Djokovic eventually closed out the contest in the fourth set after breaking early and maintaining control to seal a record-extending 21st third-round appearance at Roland Garros.
After the match, he acknowledged the difficult conditions, saying, “It was a very tough match, a challenge right from the start… I hope I don’t have to play another French player again until the end of the tournament.”
The victory also marked another milestone for the 24-time Grand Slam champion, as he became the first man to play 120 matches at a single Grand Slam event, surpassing Roger Federer’s Wimbledon record.
Djokovic will next face Brazilian 28th seed João Fonseca in the third round as he continues his pursuit of a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title.
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