French Open controversy: fans cry foul over double standards towards Djokovic

Sunday, 09 June 2024 at 14:39

Tennis fans on social media lamented the double standard faced by Serbia’s Novak Djokovic after the world number one Jannik Sinner was allowed to have a physio on the court during the semifinal of the French Open.

The 22-year-old lost in the last-four clash at the Roland Garros to Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set thriller on Friday, with a score of 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

During the contest, Sinner was seen struggling with cramps, and he even had a physiotherapist on the court for medical treatment.

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After the match, tennis fans on social media lamented the double standard in men’s tennis, especially regarding Djokovic.

"Just imagine headlines if it was Novak… Hypocrisy at its best,” one fan wrote. "If this was Novak, we all know what would the comments be like," another fan wrote. “"And where is supervisor to monitor Sinner??? He was there when Novak ask for medical time out. So disrespectful to Novak," a fan wrote.

Social media is angry at the tennis administration. Djokovic was handed a time penalty in the third-round contest of the French Open for receiving medical treatment. That decision led to criticism from some of the current and former players. The match ended at three in the morning, which was the latest in the history of the Grand Slam.

Jannik Sinner lost to Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinal of the French Open.

Djokovic won the third-round contest against Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti in a five-set thriller, 7-5, 6-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-0. The current world number two then went on to win the fourth round contest in another five-setter against Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo with a score of 6-1, 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.

During that contest, Djokovic, who is going through a difficult season where he has not played in the final of any event, suffered a knee injury, which forced him to withdraw from the French Open just before the start of the quarterfinal against Norway’s Casper Ruud.

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Replying to @robinahoody

Just imagine headlines if it was Novak… Hypocrisy at its best.

4:56 PM · Jun 7, 2024

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Azeem Siddiqui

Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.

He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.

In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.

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