Turmoil Following PSG’s UEFA Champions League Victory
Novak Djokovic experienced considerable turmoil following his Saturday match at Roland Garros, amidst chaotic celebrations for Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) momentous victory in the UEFA Champions League. PSG triumphed over Inter Milan with an impressive 5-0 score, marking the club’s first-ever win of Europe’s most prestigious football title after numerous attempts over the last ten years.
Celebrations and Consequences
In the wake of this unprecedented success, Paris erupted with jubilant celebrations. While many fans celebrated peacefully, a small group’s actions turned festive excitement into a scene of chaos. Sadly, these disturbances resulted in the deaths of two individuals and numerous arrests, prompting sharp condemnation from both PSG and French President Emmanuel Macron, who pledged to track down those responsible for the violence.
Djokovic’s Matches and Safety Concerns
Djokovic, who hoped to catch the Champions League final, had to forgo watching the match due to his concurrent evening match in Roland Garros, where he secured a victory against Filip Misolic in straight sets. Shortly after, he further advanced in the tournament by defeating Cameron Norrie, setting up a quarterfinal battle against Aleksander Zverev.
His return to the hotel, however, aligned with the wild celebrations that enveloped Paris. Speaking at a press conference, Djokovic extended his gratitude to the chief of security and his team for their adept handling of the escalating situation.
“I want to thank the chief of security, who isn’t here, but he was amazing with his team. At one point, people were quite tense here, for our return to the hotel, they were not suggesting at one point we go back to the hotel at all. To maybe find a place to sleep somewhere around here for a night,”
he explained.
The tennis star recounted witnessing troubling scenes during his journey back: flames from cars and the haze of teargas in the air indicated the danger that lurked outside. After some consideration, Djokovic and his security team chose to proceed to their accommodation, ultimately arriving safely despite the surroundings.
Describing the environment, he said,
“Because at that point it was past midnight, and there were some gas bombs and cars on fire, stuff happening on the street that was really dangerous. Actually everything around our hotel, which is close to Arc de Triomphe. In the end we talked and waited for a bit. Then we decided to go, it was fine. We reached the hotel all good.”
Reflections on the Celebration
Once in the safety of his hotel room, Djokovic reflected on the excitement unfolding outside. While he acknowledged some participants crossed lines in their celebrations, he seemed to empathize with the joy of the moment, noting the significance of PSG’s historic achievement for the city.
“It’s interesting in some way to look through your window what’s happening. At some point it was getting out of hand. But it’s understandable that people are so excited. First time champions league winners for this city. It’s one of the most important cities in the world,”
he stated.
Djokovic’s Tennis Insights
In addition to the celebrations, Djokovic has recently discussed other topics in the tennis realm, including his perspective on Stefanos Tsitsipas hiring his former coach, Goran Ivanisevic, who previously enjoyed great success during his five-year tenure with Djokovic before a brief stint with Elena Rybakina ended after the 2025 Australian Open.
