Most iconic tennis celebrations

We are accustomed to associating celebrations exclusively with the game of football, a sport in which athletes, after scoring a goal, express their joy with particular gestures that often become instantly iconic. However, tennis, in addition to memorable matches with extraordinary shots, also has its iconic celebrations that have been imprinted in the memories of fans, both avid and occasional. In recent times, tennis players have been getting closer to the audience, occasionally choosing to celebrate victories with them. Recently, during the Paris Bercy Masters 1000, Novak Djokovic adopted the open-armed celebration of Jude Bellingham, just like Carlos Alcaraz. But in addition to these recent ones from the Serbian and the Spanish players, there are others that have become identifying marks of some past and modern tennis champions.

Ben Shelton's Phone Gesture

In this 2023, the name of Ben Shelton, a young American born in 2002 who reached the 15th position in the ATP ranking this season, has come to prominence. Thanks to the Atlanta native, the trend of celebrating with the phone gesture has emerged: at the end of each winning match, Shelton puts his thumb and pinkie to his ear before hanging up the imaginary phone. The meaning of this sign was explained by the tennis player himself during a press conference: "For me, it's a bit like saying I'm connected." Djokovic repeated the celebration against the American after the victory at Flushing Meadows, almost as a taunt and provocation towards the opponent. This time, there is no direct connection to football, even though this type of celebration has been used several times, becoming the favorite gesture of Gabriel Jesus.

Youzhny's Dedication to His Late Father

In the early 2000s, the celebration of Mikhail Youzhny, a Russian tennis player who reached the 8th position in the ATP ranking during his career, gained prominence. His right hand rigidly placed on his temple, a military salute gesture, and the racket held above his head mimicking a headgear. A gesture repeated four times after each victory, once for each side of the court. Where does this celebration come from? In 2002, Youzhny lost his father to a heart attack, and since then, the tennis player has dedicated his on-court successes to him - his father was a former officer in the Russian Army.

Tsonga's Thumbs Dance

In the first round of the 2008 Australian Open, Jo Wilfried Tsonga defeated Andy Murray and achieved the status of a top tennis player. After scoring the match point, the now-retired French tennis player inaugurated what would become his iconic celebration throughout his career: spinning around with thumbs pointed toward his back. A gesture performed in a total of 467 matches won in the major circuit, including 18 ATP titles, including two Masters 1000, Paris Bercy 2008, and Toronto 2014.

Monfils' Famous "Allez"

Gaël Monfils has been, and continues to be, one of the most spectacular players on the ATP circuit, despite not being very young. In 2016, he reached his best ranking (6th), but he never stopped thrilling his fans. The Frenchman is beloved in his country, and his emotionally charged celebration has moved even those who watch tennis just for pleasure. After a victory, and sometimes even after making cinematic points, Monfils charges up, shouting "Allez!" at the top of his lungs. Additionally, the Frenchman has also brought the crossed-arms gesture to the chest, signifying "Wakanda Forever," inspired by the famous Marvel movie Black Panther.

Djokovic's Thanks

Fresh from the victory at the ATP Finals in Turin against Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, who does not enjoy the favor of a wide fan base due to his attitudes that may not please everyone, has tried throughout his career to win over fans by celebrating his victories in a more amusing manner. One of his most famous celebrations is the one involving thanks to the audience: hands extended towards each of the four stadium stands as if to embrace his fans, a gesture that has become iconic for the Serbian.

The Bryan Brothers' Chest-to-Chest Thanks

Bob and Mike Bryan formed the most successful doubles pair in tennis history. 16 Grand Slam titles for a total of 119 doubles titles. The Bryan brothers were the world number ones in the ATP ranking for a total of 438 weeks, also earning an Olympic gold. The two American brothers always played together, staging a famous celebration on tennis courts worldwide. After scoring the match point, the two ran towards each other, jumped, and hit chest-to-chest.

Nadal's Roar

Rafael Nadal announced that he will return to play in 2024, after being out of the game for almost a year due to a serious injury last January, and tennis enthusiasts couldn't be happier. The explosive game of the Mallorcan has inspired millions of fans, as well as his competitive spirit that tends to explode during and after matches. Whenever Nadal scores a crucial point, he is accustomed to raising his fist in victory, followed by the shout of "Vamos," filling the hearts and souls of everyone present.