The buzz inside the La Defense Arena was already electric when Alejandro Davidovich Fokina walked to the net, eyes blazing with adrenaline and a hint of mischief. Moments earlier, he had sealed yet another hard-fought victory against a Frenchman at the Paris Masters. And in a move straight out of the NBA playbook, he placed his hands together beside his tilted head, as if going to sleep, and performed Stephen Curry’s iconic ‘Night, Night‘ celebration. What did his opponent, Arthur Cazaux, say about the Spaniard’s post-match celebration, though?

Fokina’s actions marked the second time in two years that an international star has come to Paris and done the ‘Night, Night‘ celebration in front of a Parisian crowd. Curry did a similar thing when Team USA sealed a victory against Team France at the 2024 Paris Olympics. However, this time, Fokina in fact mocked the crowd twice! First, there was this celebration, and then, following the post-match handshake, he returned to the center of the court, waved at them, smirked, and yelled, ‘Come on!‘ while the boos and jeers raised the decibels inside the arena.

Speaking about this celebration of Alejandro Davidovich Fokina after facing a defeat by a 6(5)-7, 4-6 margin during the post-match press conference, Cazaux said, “The fans were there. The blue stand was there in force. I expected that. There’s a great atmosphere here at La Défense. It was really great. I really enjoyed myself with the fans. That’s part of the game; he had his little celebration at the end. Everyone reacts in their own way, anyway. It’s never easy having the crowd against you. He reacted like that. I don’t know if I would have done the same. I just have to keep quiet, because he played his game, he was better than me. I just have to say well done. Now it’s his problem if a few French fans will be there for him in his next matches. We’ll remember that he was better than me today. He played a great game. Well done to him.” 

The gesture, often used to signal a decisive win, was interpreted by many as a direct taunt to the home fans. The crowd gasped, the cameras zoomed in, and social media exploded after this incident. Was this a celebration or a statement?

Well, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina has always been a spark on court-intense, expressive, and unpredictable. The Paris Masters stage amplified every move, every emotion, and when he flashed the celebration, his intent was clear: this was his moment, his fight, and he was putting a stamp on it. But interestingly, just days ago, when he defeated another French player, Valentin Royer, by 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, he had faced a similar reaction. His behavior in Paris suggests a growing comfort with playing the villain, especially when facing local favorites. Isn’t it?

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In Paris, under bright lights and louder opinions, Fokina put the world to sleep—quite literally. But the only thing louder than his celebration was his opponent’s calm acceptance. And in this tennis circus, that might just be the plot twist nobody saw coming. However, let me tell you, Fokina now has no time for a nap. Guess why?

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina takes on Alexander Zverev in the R16

Paris, the city with a timeless elegance, is once again brewing a tennis duel that promises fireworks. Under the iconic indoor arena at La Defense, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina will take on the world number 3, Alexander Zverev, in the R16 of the 2025 Paris Masters. Zverev is the defending champion, and he’s entering this contest following a three-set victory over Argentina’s Camilo Ugo Carabelli in the previous round. This will be Zverev’s seventh meeting with Fokina, and the German has a 5-1 edge in the H2H record against the world number 15.

If we take a look at Fokina’s record in 2025, he reached the final at the Delray Beach Open, Mexican Open, Citi Open, and also the Swiss Indoors, but unfortunately for the Spaniard, he’s yet to win a title this season. Fokina turned pro in 2017, but surprisingly, despite his enormous talent, he’s yet to win a title in his singles career. Earlier this year, while speaking on this topic during the Tennis Channel Live podcast, former pro Steve Johnson labeled him as the current best active player without a title.

He said, “I think ADF (Alejandro Davidovich Fokina) is one of the best guys to not have won a title in his career; he has been in a few finals. As of right now on Tour, right now, I believe he is the best without one.“ Even according to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina’s peer, Nick Kyrgios, the Spaniard is a “very underrated player.”

What does Fokina think about his unfortunate record, though? In August this year, during an interview, Fokina stated, “I know I’m doing things right. The title will come; I think people know that. Maybe it won’t be this year, but it will come one day. It’s all about learning to stay calm in tense moments. That comes with playing more tournaments and more matches. Understanding that when you lose a point, it’s fine—there’s always another chance. I’ve had opportunities; I didn’t take them, but there will be others. That’s tennis.”

So, for Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, this R16 clash isn’t just another match—it’s a chance to prove consistency and maturity under bright lights, where he has often flickered. Do you think he can beat Alexander Zverev?