Novak Djokovic not being nominated for the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award started fan wars on social media. The Serb’s followers were livid after he was snubbed. A popular fan page on X (formerly Twitter) took offence to Carlos Alcaraz receiving a nomination for the category. He shared clips of the Spaniard being ‘angry’, but other fans defended him as arguments raged on.
Alcaraz is among the choices for the award, in addition to Grigor Dimitrov, Hubert Hurkacz and Jannik Sinner. Players will vote for their pick, and the winner will be announced during Awards week, starting December 11, 2023. Out of all the nominees, it was particularly Alcaraz’s selection that ticked Djokovic fans off.
Famous fan account @pavyg, with over 18,000 followers on X, shared a video of Alcaraz slamming his hand angrily during the Cincinnati Open final. He was unhappy that Alcaraz was nominated despite this display of anger. He claimed Djokovic’s absence was ironically justified by saying he is ‘angry on court’. The blogger also posted separately saying Alcaraz smashed multiple rackets yet was nominated for the award.
The media told us that Djokovic isn’t nominated for the ATP sportsmanship award as he is too “angry” on court. Today they very same Tennis media have shortlisted Alcaraz for the same award.
He needed medical treatment to his cut hand after he did this. pic.twitter.com/ZekkhPnvN7
— Pavvy G (@pavyg) November 29, 2023
Other fans sprang to negate this thought and supported Alcaraz. A few said the World No.2 rarely loses his temper and this moment in Cincinnati was an exemption.
You cannot compare someone who does that exceptionally with someone doing that on a regular basis. Think better
— Johny Dresco (@JohnyDresco) November 29, 2023
I agree with this excuse being invalid.
However, about “being angry”, this is cherry picking. Alcaraz gets angry as shown, however Nole gets angrier and way more often than Carlos.
Just saying this to point it out, I also think it’s bad to exclude him bc of this.— Lorenzo Cioffi (@Isniper_Tns) November 29, 2023
Come on, dude. I have been a Novak supporter for many years, but one including Djokovic himself cannot deny that sometimes his behaviour on court is not good. Carlos is way more decent in that, and this case is rather an exception. Cannot believe this has to be explained.
— Sergii Chemerys (@schemerys) November 29, 2023
For every one clip of Carlos, you’ll find 10 of Djokovic. Smashing rackets, angrily hitting balls out, mock-kissing people who cheer against him, conducting boos in the crowd. You must be delusional if you ever think he’ll win this award.
— Christopher McDonell (@cleetche) November 30, 2023
A section of fans countered that the two-time Grand Slam winner has never smashed a racket. One user urged @pavyg to prove his words and share clips of Alcaraz breaking a racket.
Show me Alcaraz smashing a racquet (you said he did it multiple times in 2023)
— theo0110 (@theo011037) November 30, 2023
Liar. Carlos has never broken a racket. On two occasions he has thrown it to the ground, but he never smashed it. I see that today you are in one of your obsessive outbreaks with him.
— Eme (@Eme11074286) November 29, 2023
There were several instances this year where alcaraz gave the point to his opponent when he didn’t have to. Also alcaraz didn’t smash one racket this year unlike djokovic…
— Piero (@Pyroboi10) November 29, 2023
Threw? Yes. Smashed? Show me ONE.
— theo0110 (@theo011037) November 29, 2023
The rare moment when Carlos Alcaraz lost his temper against Novak Djokovic
Carlos Alcaraz arrived in North America fresh off his 2023 Wimbledon victory where he beat Novak Djokovic in the final. He stumbled in the first tournament, the Canadian Open, exiting in the quarterfinals. However, he seemed to be back to his best in the next event, the Cincinnati Masters. Even as all his matches stretched on for three sets, he made it to the final.
A rematch against Djokovic stood in the way of Alcaraz’s third ATP 1000 title of the season. He won an intense opening set 7-5. He secured the first break in the second and looked set to lift the title. His opponent was cramping up due to the heat and exhaustion and the Spaniard was close to running away with the tie. Djokovic, though, bounced back with his trademark resilience, pushing the set into tiebreak. He saved a championship point and won the second set.
Alcaraz was well-placed to win the set and hence, the title, but could not capitalise. The frustration boiled over as he repeatedly smashed his right hand on the bench armrest during the change over between sets. He managed to inflict a cut and a physiotherapist had to attend to the 20-year-old. He recovered from this rare moment of anger to fight it out in the decider.
Djokovic, however, prevailed 5-7, 7-6(7), 7-6(4) in a match that lasted nearly four hours. The pair faced contrasting fortunes after the match. Alcaraz’s season dwindled whereas Djokovic added a 24th Slam, two Masters and the ATP Finals.
