A Novak Djokovic fan has faced backlash after making an insensitive comment regarding World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who recently experienced a personal tragedy with the passing of his beloved aunt. Sinner had dedicated his 2024 US Open victory to his late aunt, who was ill during the tournament, and news broke on September 22 that she had passed away.
The Djokovic fan took to social media to question Sinner’s participation in promotional events, such as those for Gucci and the Olympics, despite his aunt’s poor health. The fan suggested that Sinner should have skipped sponsor obligations in light of the family tragedy. This post caused a stir, leading to widespread condemnation, prompting the fan to delete it.
Tennis journalist Jon Wertheim later shared a screenshot of the deleted post, posing the question of whether athletes should be held accountable for the behavior of their most vocal or offensive fans. Wertheim wondered if a public repudiation from athletes could help address such negative behavior.
Sinner, currently in Beijing for the 2024 China Open, is preparing to defend his title. This incident adds to a history of controversial interactions involving the same Djokovic fan, including a previous back-and-forth with Andy Roddick on social media over comments the American made about Djokovic’s injury update earlier this year.
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