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As the 2026 French Open gets underway at Roland Garros, the clay courts are delivering intense matches, but the real buzz is happening off-court on staircases and social media feeds.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka kicked things off with an energetic dance challenge video shared by the official tournament account, and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic quickly joined the fun, turning the tournament into a light-hearted dance-off.
Sabalenka accepts Djokovic's dance challenge and fans are losing it
Sabalenka strutted her stuff while carrying her tennis bags down a staircase at the venue. Smiling broadly at the camera, the Belarusian powerhouse performed playful moves in what has become a recurring social media trend among players.
Meanwhile, Djokovic, never one to shy away from entertainment, after battling back from a set down to defeat France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in his opening match (5-7, 7-5, 6-1, 6-4), had a viral dance moment. The 39-year-old Serb celebrated with a signature shoulder-shimmy dance that had the crowd roaring.
But he wasn’t done. The official Roland Garros account soon shared another video of Djokovic dancing in a stairwell. Looking directly at the camera, he declared: “Check this out... Woo! Woo! You can’t beat that, Aryna. I challenge you.”
Djokovic’s playful jab revived a friendly rivalry in fun that dates back to previous interactions, including last year’s viral moments.
ALSO READ: Jannik Sinner joins Federer, Nadal, Djokovic in new record with victory at Roland Garros
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