‘How low can you go’ Novak Djokovic’s fans lash out at Roland Garros for snubbing him from poster

Novak Djokovic

20-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic will return to Grand Slam action for the first time this season when he plays at the 2022 French Open. The Serbian was a doubt for this year’s edition after the French government was planning to make vaccinations compulsory for all visiting foreigners that would have seen Novak sit out yet another major.

However, with the Covid-19 situation improving in the country and globally as well, the government has decided to cancel the policy and welcome non-vaccinated foreigners as well. This provides Novak the opportunity to play and defend his title unlike his case in Australia where he was the 3-time defending champion at the 2022 Australian Open but had to give up his titles without any title defence.

As he now prepares to return for the Golden Swing of the ATP Tour with his return expected at the 2022 Monte-Carlo Masters, the Serbian was recently snubbed from a poster for the 2022 French Open. In a recent promotional banner put out by the official handle of the Roland Garros that invited the fans to ‘Special night sessions on Phillipe-Chatrier’, it featured last year’s runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas and not Djokovic who was the champion.

? At the 2022 edition of Roland-Garros, come and experience the spectacular Night sessions on Philippe-Chatrier court : https://t.co/RRYpqKaDNN

? Opening of ticket sales on Tuesday 8th March at 10am!#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/nssKhQElNG
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) March 3, 2022

Twitter reacts to Novak Djokovic’s absence from the poster

While the participation of Novak is still not confirmed as the policies might alter as it is completely dependent on the Covid cases, the tournament might have gone with the hope of putting Stefanos who has confirmed his status as vaccinated against Covid-19 and in case the country applies the compulsory vaccination rule, Tsitsipas is sure to be present at the tournament.

This was not taken well by Novak’s fans on Twitter as many reminded that the best night session featured Novak and not Stef. A couple of edits with Novak also appeared in the reply section that demanded that the French Open should respect the champion instead of snubbing.

Very disrespectful in many fronts. Post both the mens and womens champions. It is sad and speaks volumes when a sports body displays such discrimination and bias. Freedom of choice is not inclusiveness I guess. Shame on you all !
— Thasneem (@Thasnee2000) March 3, 2022

You hypocrites. You can put even a Dog there and that won't change the fact @DjokerNole won #RG2021
— BISSIU? (@justbissiu) March 3, 2022

Tennis mafia
— AshX (@DjokoAsh) March 3, 2022

https://twitter.com/BumpyOth/status/1499481634579623936

Your "Poster Boy" Tsitsipas is N.5 the world, half Russian, yet he hasn't said a word about the war in Ukraine until now, he is a bad example of lack of empathy and superficiality… #malaka!
— Gina (@Gistar18) March 3, 2022

You are being disrespectful to your defending champion! Shame! Shame! Shame!!!?
— nolénutini (@themissprecy) March 3, 2022

Realy RG, the poster with last year's finalist instead of Champion?!?! How low can you go??
— Kiza (@ZGocic) March 4, 2022

At least this confirms again that Roland Garros participation in tennis politics which only divides the fans and the players.
— Greg (@HotBoyNY1) March 3, 2022

???

Where's the winner !?!
Shameful.
— Danisima (@MirnaSanjarije) March 4, 2022

Audacity is Djokovic middle name! Btw, your actual Champion ?
There is an error on your poster ??
Reminder of Tsitsi's audacity : "ND made us look like fools" ??? Tsitsi audaciously made his choice but then this ⬆️??‍♀️
— SlavKa (@ka_slav) March 4, 2022

For the first time RG is putting the finalist,not the winner of last year RG! The west is not even trying to hide the hate on Novak! This year it's all about how to hurt Novak without shame buy every Western country.???
— Vladimir (@dirigent811) March 5, 2022

https://twitter.com/fam_una/status/1500384810870652934

Discrimination against your champion, maybe ? you know something we don't!
— ??WADA we want a level playing field ? ??? (@mpshe_shamai) March 3, 2022

Why didn't you add the defending champion in the advertising? Not fair at all!
— ~Maria~ (@__Maria__R) March 3, 2022

https://twitter.com/soulsurferzz/status/1499574528715808770

A quick reminder. The best night session you have had so far involved Djokovic and Nadal. Not sure why are you advertising it with this guy
— Eitu Taera  (@zveljka) March 3, 2022

Blatant disrespect!!!
— Andria_Mampita (@AMampita) March 3, 2022

Cheap. Don't lose ur authenticity by leaving novak out of poster. He is the defending champion and GOAT.
— BK PATIL (@BKPATIL13579) March 4, 2022

This is the Real Deal @rolandgarros
the Winner 2021 . What a cheek to bypass him. That picture of Tsitsipas is really unflatterning , the angle from the bottom makes the proportions funny and one can't see the golden locks. So you might as well change the picture. Thank you??
— Freda (@freda_toit) March 3, 2022

Also Read: “Crossed the line”: Alexander Zverev condemns the insults of the Brazilians in the Davis Cup

Tags: Novak Djokovic

#About the Author

Sarthak Shitole

(3462 Articles Published)

Sarthak Shitole is a tennis writer at FirstSportz having curated more than 3000 articles over the two and a half years he has been here. Having started as an intern, he is currently the content manager for tennis. He has been following the sport for more than a decade and over the years, has developed a neutral perspective on the sport while having an unbiased liking to a lot of players for their playing style. His interest extends to other games as well with a fascination to know about the sports' history and statistics as well.

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‘How low can you go’ Novak Djokovic’s fans lash out at Roland Garros for snubbing him from poster

Twitter reacts to Novak Djokovic’s absence from the poster

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