Alejandro Davidovich Fokina’s behaviour following his victory over Arthur Cazaux provoked fury amongst spectators in at the Paris Masters. The Spanish player mimicked basketball star Steph Curry’s trademark celebration and it did not go down well with the partisan crowd. Fokina faced a stern test from Cazaux before eventually progressing with a 7(7)-6(5), 6-4 triumph.
Notably, Cazaux became the second French opponent Fokina had overcome at the competition, having previously dispatched Valentin Royer in the round of 64. When Cazaux’s concluding shot fell marginally beyond the baseline, confirming Fokina’s victory, the Spaniard instantly released his racket and pulled off a sleeping gesture, which had been popularised by Curry in the NBA.
Witnessing this display, the audience immediately erupted into a chorus of boos directed at the Spaniard.
Following the gesture, Fokina proceeded to acknowledge the spectators as they persisted with their hostile reception whilst he approached the net to exchange courtesies with Cazaux at centre court.
After the two players completed their handshake, Fokina repeated the gesture as supporters intensified their vocal displeasure.
The response was seemingly what the Spanish player was looking for, with the 26 year old gesturing towards the spectators, clearly energised by his Parisian triumph.
As he settled down following his win, the audience maintained their vocal opposition, subjecting Fokina to resounding jeers.
Cazaux was quizzed on the celebration after stepping off the court and took the opportunity to take a thinly-veiled dig at his rival.
“He made his little celebration at the end. Everybody reacts their own way,” said the Frenchman.
“It’s never easy to have the public against you. That’s the way he reacted. I don’t know whether I would have reacted in the same way, but all I can do is shut up, because he played his match.
“He was better than I was. All I can say is bravo. It won’t be my fault if there is not very many French people behind him in the next rounds.”