2 MINUTES AGO: Following in the footsteps of fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz and RAFA legend, Novak Djokovic surprised everyone by flatly rejecting the Tesla ad Elon Musk posted on his shirt during the Roland-Garros tournament. Djokovic gave such a convincing reason that it left Elon Musk speechless and shocked the international press: “He will regret the rejection.”
In a completely unexpected turn of events at Roland-Garros, world number one Novak Djokovic stood out not only for his talent on the court, but also for a decisive decision that left the international press speechless, and above all, one of the most powerful men in the tech world: Elon Musk.
The Serbian, always known for his strong stance, has surprisingly followed in the footsteps of young Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz and eternal idol Rafael Nadal, taking a clear stance against a publicity stunt that has divided fans and set social media ablaze.
During one of the most anticipated matches of the day, a drone captured an unusual image: Elon Musk, present among the VIP audience, was wearing a black T-shirt with white lettering that read: “The future of tennis is electric: Powered by Tesla.”
A seemingly harmless—or even supportive—gesture was interpreted by many as an attempt to associate the Tesla brand with key figures in world tennis, without an official sponsorship agreement with the players.
Upon learning of this strategy, Djokovic didn’t hesitate to express his rejection with a firm statement at a press conference:
“With all due respect, I don’t want to be the face of a technological narrative I don’t share. Tesla may represent the future for some, but not for me. I play with my heart, not with batteries.”
The Serbian’s words sparked an avalanche of reactions. While some media outlets called him “courageous,” others accused him of being ungrateful for not supporting global innovation initiatives. However, most agreed on one thing: no one expected such a frontal rejection of a figure like Musk.
In a moment worthy of a movie, cameras captured Elon Musk’s reaction from his seat. With an awkward smile, he simply mumbled something that he would later confirm on his personal X (formerly Twitter) account:
“You will regret the rejection.”
A phrase that, far from extinguishing the fire, rekindled it.
Sources close to Djokovic revealed that his decision was motivated, in part, by a private conversation with Carlos Alcaraz, who a few weeks ago reportedly rejected a multimillion-dollar offer to promote electric cars on the European Tour.
And not only that: Rafael Nadal himself, although retired from major competitions, reportedly sent a message of support to both players, praising their integrity and commitment to the values of sport.
“Not everything in life is business. Defending who you are is worth more than any contract,” Rafa reportedly wrote.
Tesla is rumored to be in advanced negotiations with several tournaments and players to launch a technology sponsorship line in the tennis world, similar to its strategy in Formula 1. But this unexpected public rejection could cause Musk to reconsider his plans.
Some analysts even speculate that the company could shift toward other sports or figures more receptive to its vision.
Meanwhile, Djokovic is seemingly calm as he prepares for his next match, although it’s possible that this controversy could have consequences for him off the court.
In a brief interview with a French journalist, Novak closed the topic with a phrase that has now gone viral:
“Tennis doesn’t need porters. It just needs passion.”
A statement that has been applauded on social media and, for many, symbolizes the classic spirit of this sport in a world increasingly dominated by digital technology.
