Novak Djokovic Ruthlessly Booed at Roland-Garros — ‘No Respect’
· Yahoo Sports
“You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.”
The phrase has become a cultural touchstone since Jonathan Nolan coined it for “The Dark Knight” in 2008.
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Novak Djokovic can relate. The all-time great tennis legend has stuck around long enough to win over 400 Grand Slam singles matches and 24 major titles.
Those heroics didn’t save him from being the villain at Roland-Garros in Paris on Wednesday.
PARIS, FRANCE – MAY 27: Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates after winning his match against Valentin Royer of France during the Men’s Singles on Day Four of the 2026 French Open at Roland Garros on May 27, 2026 in Paris, France. (Photo by Antonio Borga/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)Djokovic, 39, faced Frenchman Valentin Royer, 25, in the second round of the 2026 French Open, so it’s unclear whether the home crowd booed Djokovic out of loyalty to Royer or out of genuine distaste for him. Either way, they booed him ruthlessly. Djokovic shrugged.
The umpire came over the loudspeakers, “Ladies and gentlemen, please have some respect for both of the players.” Djokovic could be heard saying, “They don’t have respect. No respect. No respect.” Parts of the crowd then cheered and clapped while Djokovic prepared to serve.
The Roland Garros crowd booed Novak Djokovic during his match against Royer.
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 27, 2026
Umpire: “Ladies & gentleman please have some respect for both of the players.”
Novak: “They have no respect. No respect.”
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Djokovic defeated Royer in four sets, 6-3, 6-2, 6-7(7), 6-3. At his post-match press conference, Djokovic cited the heat wave more than the rowdy crowd as an arduous obstacle.
“When you play a three-and-a-half hour match on clay, it’s long and very exhausting, at least in my opinion,” Djokovic said. “So, yeah, physically spent quite a bit of energy today on a very hot day, very challenging conditions.”
He continued, “It was obviously my fault I didn’t finish in straight sets because I broke up twice in the third. Match point, just too passive on those points, and he took his chances, and he got the crowd support he was looking for, and obviously momentum shifted. But I managed to kind of regroup in the fourth. It was very challenging.”
Djokovic (3) will next face Brazilian Joao Fonseca (28) on Friday.
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