Novak Djokovic has rarely been one to hold his tongue. The 24-time Grand Slam champion has garnered a dazzling reputation for his on-court skills. Off-the-court, he is similarly notable, albeit in a slightly more polarizing fashion.
For some, Djokovic is a prankster, blessed with impressive comedic timing and a passion for words. For others, he’s a pest who can be stern and dismissive to those outside of his orbit.
During his third-round matchup against No. 28 Joao Fonseca in the French Open, Djokovic was both — at least to those who watched along from their homes. Here’s what you need to know.
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Novak Djokovic yells at French Open cameraman
Djokovic enjoyed a strong start to life at Roland Garros on Friday, outwitting Fonseca to claim back-to-back 6-4 set victories.
Following that second conquest, Djokovic returned to his bench and attempted to put his racket in his bag. He was summarily greeted by a cameraperson who, by Djokovic’s estimation, had failed to give him adequate breathing room.
The videographer lingered for a little too long for the Serbian’s liking. Djokovic responded sharply, telling the cameraperson to back away.
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“Can you come more in my face,” Djokovic said. “For God’s sake, make some space.”
Novak Djokovic to the cameraman during his match against João Fonseca at Roland Garros:
“Can you come more in my face? For God’s sake make some space”
😭😭😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/GZaoNVCe8I
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 29, 2026
Predictably, the incident went viral on X, prompting plenty of responses from intrepid social media users. Things went for bad to worse in the sets to come for Djokovic. Fonseca stormed back with a vengeance, besting Djokovic in back-to-back frames to set up a decisive fifth set.
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Novak Djokovic vs. Joao Fonseca score
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| Novak Djokovic | 6 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 2* |
| Joao Fonseca | 4 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 1* |
*Match is still ongoing
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