Former World No.1 Roger Federer is being slammed online for not posting a congratulatory message for gis ex-arch-rival Novak Djokovic, who made tennis history over the weekend.
With his straight-sets triumph over Norwegian Casper Ruud in the Roland Garros final, Djokovic leapfrogged Spanish icon Rafael Nadal who owns 22 Grand Slam titles, making him the first men's player to accomplish the feat of 23 Majors.
With his straight-sets triumph over Norwegian Casper Ruud in the Roland Garros final, Djokovic leapfrogged Spanish icon Rafael Nadal who owns 22 Grand Slam titles, making him the first men's player to accomplish the feat of 23 Majors.
While Nadal sent his best wishes to Djokovic following his record win, Federer didn't, which did not go unnoticed on social media and netizens blasted the Swiss maestro for not congratulating the Serb for his historic accomplishment.
The criticism of Federer on Twitter was noticeable given that it even highlighted the current state of relations between the West and the East amid Russia's ongoing special military operation in Ukraine.
For the uninitiated, Djokovic is a Serb and his country Serbia shares warm ties with Moscow.
A social media user even pointed out that Federer was the favorite of the "West," while Djokovic is the East's poster boy.
"Why Novak Djokovic is a thorn in the West's side? Sport is a reflection of society. The British have that colonizing attitude. They consider themselves the best. Federer and Nadal are theirs. Djokovic is an 'eastern' candidate, he bothers them", one user wrote on Twitter.
"After hearing for so many years how "gracious" Federer is, this is starting to feel awkward. Is the man too hurt to post even a few words acknowledging the greatest ever achievement in men's tennis? What happened to all that 'class'?" another added.
"Novak Djokovic has overcome war, Federer and Nadal, biased media, hostile crowds, a pandemic, Grand Slam cancellations, unfair disqualifications, and forced vaccinations. And now, he has won more Grand Slam titles than any man in history", a third concluded.