Novak Djokovic Dances After Surviving Scare at Roland Garros and Challenges Aryna Sabalenka: “Can’t Beat That”

Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka lost their respective finals in this year's Australian Open.

Novak Djokovic Dances After Surviving Scare at Roland Garros and Challenges Aryna Sabalenka: “Can’t Beat That”

Novak Djokovic challenged Aryna Sabalenka in a dance competition (Image via HOLA, Sky Sports, X/The Tennis Letter, TNT Sports)

In Short
  • Novak Djokovic celebrated his first-round victory at Roland Garros with a dance challenge to Aryna Sabalenka.
  • He won the match against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard after losing the first set, finishing with a score of 5-7, 7-5, 6-1, 6-4.
  • Djokovic will face Valentin Royer in the next round after his recent performance in the Australian Open final.

Novak Djokovic has revived the dance challenge with Aryna Sabalenka after surviving a scare in the first round of the French Open. Up against him was Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, who took the first set off him before losing with a 5-7, 7-5, 6-1, 6-4 scoreline.

Right after winning the last point of the match, Nole broke into a dance to celebrate his win to the delight of the crowd on Court Philippe-Chatrier. He continued dancing during his on-court interview as well.

Well, Djokovic didn’t stop there. While descending the stairs, Djokovic repeated the dance move and challenged his friend Sabalenka.

Check this out. Wooh! Wooh! Can’t beat that, Aryna.

Novak Djokovic said

In last year’s Roland Garros, the two enjoyed a lighthearted dance competition after their respective match wins. Sabalenka even suggested turning the dance into an international poll, but without any Serbian fans participating in it.

Djokovic didn’t dance after his semifinal match because eventual runner-up Jannik Sinner ended his run in straight sets. Sabalenka’s run ended only after the final with a three-set defeat to Coco Gauff.

Sabalenka will be up against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the opening round. The World No.1 holds a 2-0 head-to-head record over the Spanish ace, defeating her in the second round of the 2025 Australian Open and the fourth round of the 2025 Canadian Open.

Sabalenka didn’t have a great campaign at this year’s Madrid Open and the Italian Open by her own standards, as she fell before reaching the semifinal. In Paris, Sabalenka is chasing her fourth title of the season after her Brisbane win and her win in the two Sunshine Double events.

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Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard on the challenges of playing Novak Djokovic

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard met Novak Djokovic for the first time in his career. And as expected, the big serving Frenchman challenged the Serb. En route to the defeat, Perricard suffered from cramps, and he’s not proud of how things ended despite putting up a fight. For him, the goal was never to win a set but to beat the 24-time Grand Slam champion, which is why he’s disappointed with the result.

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (via Wimbledon)

I felt very good with my serve because I was very precise, and that was more important than the speed. Against players like him, you need to find exactly the right spot and the right speed because if you miss half a meter or a meter, you immediately face a winning return.

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard said at the press conference

The 22-year-old has never progressed beyond the second round of the French Open. In Majors, his best performance was a fourth-round run on his Wimbledon debut back in 2024.

There were moments when I served at 230 or 240 kilometers per hour, and still, he returned the ball lightning fast at my feet before I had even finished my follow-through. I was also very surprised by how prepared he was, even for my first serve. Honestly, I didn’t expect him to be so on top of it from the start of the point. But, well, he is Djokovic. I’ve been watching him on TV for fifteen years, and he does many things very well.

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard added

Djokovic will next be up against another Frenchman, Valentin Royer. Before arriving in Paris, he had played just one match on clay and lost it (in the opening round of the Italian Open).

The 39-year-old played the final of this year’s Australian Open after knocking out two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner in the semifinal. But in the final, Carlos Alcaraz denied him his historic 25th Major. It was the second time Djokovic played a Major final since his win at the 2023 US Open. That year, Djokovic also lifted his third French Open title by defeating Casper Ruud.

Also read: Alexandra Eala Eyes Rafael Nadal and Iga Swiatek Clay Secrets Ahead of Roland Garros Debut