Aryna Sabalenka responds to Djokovic, shows off dance moves after French Open win
French Open: Aryna Sabalenka answered Novak Djokovic's viral battle dance after winning her French Open opener. Their playful exchange gave Roland Garros an early talking point and exposed a lighter edge to elite tennis.
Novak Djokovic’s viral dance challenge has found its perfect reply, with world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka showing off her moves after her first-round win at the 2026 French Open.
French Open: Updates
After Djokovic revived his trademark “battle dance” celebration following his opening-round victory, the 24-time Grand Slam champion cheekily threw a challenge in Sabalenka’s direction. The Belarusian didn’t take long to respond, and the official Roland Garros channels even captured her dancing down the stairs, turning the moment into an instant viral highlight.
The playful exchange has quickly become one of the talking points of the tournament, continuing a light-hearted rivalry that has been building between the two stars since last year’s Roland Garros edition, where similar celebrations also went viral. Fans online have embraced the back-and-forth, enjoying the rare glimpse of fun and personality amid the intensity of Grand Slam tennis.
ON COURT RESULTS
On court, Sabalenka once again looked every bit the world No. 1. She powered past Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-4, 6-2 on Court Philippe-Chatrier, extending her remarkable streak of consistency at major tournaments. The Belarusian has now cleared the first round in all of her last 22 Grand Slam appearances, with her most recent opening-round defeat dating back to the 2020 Australian Open.
Since rising to the top of the WTA rankings in October 2024, Sabalenka has embraced the pressure that comes with being the player everyone is chasing. “I think we all feel pressure,” she said after the win. “That’s just part of this life, so you have to get used to it. It’s a little hard to ignore.”
Djokovic, meanwhile, had set the tone for the exchange earlier in the week. After surviving a tricky opening-round test against Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, he battled through a four-set contest 5-7, 7-5, 6-1, 6-4 on Court Philippe-Chatrier. The 39-year-old briefly looked under pressure after a slow start but recovered strongly, eventually sealing victory and then sparking the now-viral dance challenge that Sabalenka so eagerly answered.
What started as a post-match celebration has now turned into one of Roland Garros’ most entertaining storylines—proof that even at the highest level of Grand Slam pressure, there’s still room for a bit of rhythm, rivalry, and fun.