Novak Djokovic will feature in a Saudi Arabia-backed exhibition tournament called 6 Kings Slam in October 2024. As the news emerged on X (formerly Twitter), many took shots at the Serb’s fan group, Nolefam, and a certain superfan who had slammed Rafael Nadal for his association with the Gulf nation.
Nadal recently became the brand ambassador for the Saudi Tennis Federation, inviting the ire of many fans on social media. The country is widely accused of ‘sportswashing’ to gloss over its allegedly poor human rights record. Djokovic’s fans took this as an opportunity to troll the Spaniard. Pavvy G, one of the most polarising fans of the World No.1 on X, made multiple posts ridiculing Nadal for his collaboration with Saudi Arabia.
Now, with the news of Djokovic participating in Saudi Arabia’s latest tennis project, many fans hit back at the Nolefam. He will play in the exhibition event in October, a month when the ATP calendar has events like the Shanghai and Paris Masters. X users mocked Djokovic’s fans about him taking part in the tournament in Riyadh. Some even specifically targeted Pavvy G.
What’s your take on Nole taking money from the Saudi, @pavyg?
— Dioguin. (@Dioguin_003) February 5, 2024
Nolefam: Rafa wants blood money from Saudi Arabia, so rubbish smh
Nole: pic.twitter.com/mSbHMuIw4D
— J Bryant (@yeojTO) February 5, 2024
Ok
We were scolded in every thread specially by Nolefam about Rafa’s involvement with Saudi tennis…
Here you go!
Now a decent bunch would acknowledge the unfairness of all the comments they directed at Rafa – whilst their hero was signing up to join him, no? ♀️ pic.twitter.com/VYeUlb3iOA— Nina (@Nina_Brtt) February 5, 2024
Hold on, what do the sanctimonious ‘Nolefam’ have to say now that Novak is taking Saudi money?
— McFlyy.eth (@mcflyyeth) February 5, 2024
More fans joined in on trolling Djokovic’s fans and sarcastically asking where they are now.
There ya go…
Nolefam… big fat hypocritesTHERE IS NOLE….TROTTING OFF TO SAUDI ARABIA. pic.twitter.com/JHvg7YGSEz
— Linda (@lindar_lou) February 5, 2024
WHERE ARE THE DIRTY MFS WHO SAID RAFA WAS A SELLOUT FOR BEING AN AMBASSADOR FOR SAUDIA ARABIA? COME HERE, TO GET SPANKED https://t.co/MCBVxxVKih
— Animal_Power (@AnimalPower13) February 6, 2024
Where are the NoleFam cultists screaming that Nadal is awful for accepting Saudi money?
— Jeniffer L. Estrada (@Jeniestra) February 6, 2024
Apparently it’s not only Rafa who takes the “money full of blood” of Saudi Arabia ♂️♂️♂️
— Flavietto99 (RAFA 22 ) (@FlavioBertolin8) February 5, 2024
Djokovic fans who criticize Nadal for “taking Saudi money” are going to be real quiet about this one.
— wyatt (@BananaZach2) February 6, 2024
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal headline star-studded lineup
This is not the first time Djokovic has agreed to participate in an exhibition match in Saudi Arabia, also playing one in December 2023. During the off-season last year, he played Carlos Alcaraz in the Riyadh Season Tennis Cup. While that was just a one-off tie, the 6 Kings Slam will presumably be a longer tournament.
Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz will both return to Saudi Arabia for the exhibition event. Rafael Nadal will also join them. 2024 Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner and runner-up Daniil Medvedev are also slated to feature. Holger Rune completes the six-man field for the tournament scheduled for October 2024. Exact dates and further details about the format will be released soon.
