Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, unleashed a fiery outburst during his third-round match against Matteo Arnaldi at the 2025 Geneva Open on May 22, smashing his racket after losing a service game in the second set. Trailing 4-6, 0-2, Djokovic’s frustration boiled over as he obliterated his racket on the clay, prompting boos from the Geneva crowd and a code violation from the umpire, as reported by Sky Sports. The incident, captured in a viral clip shared by @ESPNtenis on X, drew mixed reactions, with @sangeetapremi noting, “Djokovic with his first really bad service game of the event, broken as Arnaldi makes him pay. He is furious with himself.”
Despite the meltdown, Djokovic rallied to win 6-4, 6-4, 6-2, advancing to the quarterfinals in his first appearance at the ATP 250 event, a tune-up for the French Open starting May 25. Post-match, he acknowledged his struggle, telling reporters, “I was fighting myself today, not just Matteo. I’m not at my best, but I found a way.” This outburst echoes past incidents, such as his 2023 Wimbledon final racket smash against Carlos Alcaraz, where he was fined $8,000 and booed for denting a net post, and his 2021 Tokyo Olympics tantrum, where he threw and smashed rackets during a bronze-medal loss to Pablo Carreño Busta.
The Geneva crowd’s disapproval mirrors previous backlash, like at the 2021 Australian Open when fans criticized his racket-smashing against Alexander Zverev as “cringe.” Djokovic’s history of on-court frustrations, including a 2020 US Open disqualification for hitting a line judge, has polarized fans. While some, like @Big3Tennis, noted his edginess throughout the match, others on X defended his passion, arguing it fuels his comeback ability. As Djokovic prepares for Roland Garros, where he faces a tough field including Jannik Sinner and Alcaraz, his ability to channel this intensity will be crucial.[]
