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The playful dance rivalry that lit up the early rounds of the 2026 French Open has officially come to an end, at least according to Aryna Sabalenka. Following Novak Djokovic’s dramatic five-set loss to rising Brazilian star João Fonseca, the World No. 1 was asked about the viral dance battles that had become a highlight of the tournament.
Sabalenka calls off dance battle as Djokovic crashes out of Roland Garros
With her characteristic humor and loyalty, Sabalenka declared the friendly competition over. With a smile during her post-match interview, she said:
“I’m super loyal to my friends so I guess the competition is done. It is how it is. There might be posing, not dancing.”
The light-hearted feud traces back to previous years at Roland Garros but exploded in popularity during the 2026 edition. It began when Sabalenka celebrated one of her early wins with energetic choreography, directly challenging Djokovic.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion responded in style, delivering Michael Jackson-inspired moves complete with Thriller zombie choreography and flair both on the clay and famously on the stairs of the Philippe-Chatrier court.
Sabalenka quickly fired back with her own interpretation of the Thriller routine, turning the post-match celebrations into a fan-favorite spectacle. Meanwhile, no more entertaining dance videos as per the Belarusian, as the 24-time Grand Slam champion is no longer in the tournament.
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