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Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz have talked about playing together in the 2024 Olympics, helping close out the sport for Rafa. However, they encountered a huge obstacle as playing in the Olympics required a rule to be fulfilled, which both Spaniards did not. Regardless, the ITF granted them the benefit of playing in the tournament. Watching the scenes unfold in front of them, fans of Novak Djokovic lashed out as they talked about the bias of the tennis federation.

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This is not the first time fans have been angry about a tournament favoring other players over the Serbinator. Wimbledon‘s teaser for the tournament saw an oversight of Djokovic, which did not sit well with his fans at all.

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Novak Djokovic fans lash out at bias for Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal

Tournaments that see players representing their countries are managed by the ITF. The federation has ruled that a player must be a part of a team appearing in the Davis Cup final and be present at the event on at least two occasions in an Olympic cycle to play in the Summer Olympics. Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz have not managed to fulfill the criteria. 

However, they do not have to fret as the criteria have been lifted specifically for the two. Djokovic fans were incredulous when the conditions were revealed and lashed out at the ITF on social media.

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One Nole fan said that they can’t imagine the outrage that would follow if either Serbia or Djokovic had received the benefit of last-minute changes to the “rules are rules” directions.

A fan wondered why “rules are rules”, “no one is above the rules”, and “choices have consequences changed. 

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One fan was sickened by the rule changes for the Spanish duo.

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Another fan was incredulous as they wondered how one could turn a blind eye to it or simply allow the injustice to take place.

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A despondent user simply said that tennis had died a long time ago.

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The quote used by the fans as they say “rules are rules” refers to the time when the then Prime Minister of Australia, Scott Morrison, said the same thing when denying Djokovic entry into the country in the 2022 Australian Open. They lashed out back then and also lashed out when Wimbledon did not show Djokovic properly.

Djoker’s absence angers fans

The release of the Wimbledon teaser video generated outrage on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter). Fans voiced their displeasure and accused tournament organizers of bias. Discussions regarding the defending champion’s alleged absence in the teaser raged across numerous social media platforms. Djokovic’s on-screen presence was limited to two seconds, which infuriated tennis fans everywhere.

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Some fans claimed that Djokovic’s seeming snub was related to his previous decision to decline the option to become a British citizen when he was younger. The speculations continued, but fans could not let go of the short appearance of the Djoker. The moment, paired with the current one, shows the dedication of Nole fans to their favorite.

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Ripunjay Gaba

1,821 Articles

Ripunjay Gaba, a tennis enthusiast-turned-journalist at EssentiallySports, found his way from freelance sports journalism to the publishing house in ES. Here, his writing canvas encompasses the game specifics while finding poetic resonance in covering major sporting events. Ripunjay, a perpetual upgrader, uses avid reading to bring varied flavor to his Tennis reporting. From the Netflix Documentary Break Point to the various Tennis podcasts, his coverage stays diverse. Beyond the world of articles, he extends this commitment to physical well-being with regular workouts, infusing dynamism into both the narratives he crafts and the life he lives. In Ripunjay's world, every keystroke is a step closer to unraveling the essence of tennis.

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Ananya Giri

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