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Djokovic and Sabalenka Turn Roland Garros Into Michael Jackson Dance-Off

The tournament’s promotion of their Michael Jackson–style exchanges has turned brief celebrations into a viral subplot that highlights Djokovic’s ongoing bid for another major.

Overview

  • Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka have responded to each other with Michael Jackson–inspired moves after matches, turning short postmatch celebrations into a recurring dance rivalry at Roland Garros.
  • Tournament social accounts and sports outlets widely circulated clips of Djokovic’s moonwalk and Sabalenka’s Thriller-style choreography, making the exchanges a shareable storyline beyond match recaps.
  • Both players remain focused on competition: Djokovic and Sabalenka advanced to the third round, with Djokovic scheduled to face Joao Fonseca and Sabalenka set to meet Daria Kasatkina.
  • Djokovic’s second-round win also marked a milestone reported by the tournament, making him the first man to play 120 matches at a single Grand Slam event.
  • The light-hearted duel sits against a changing title picture after Carlos Alcaraz’s withdrawal and Jannik Sinner’s earlier exit, a sequence that has widened the path for contenders like Djokovic.