Novak Djokovic has busted out two different on-court moves after his 2025 US Open wins, both to honor his daughter Tara.
Most recently, after his quarterfinal win over Taylor Fritz, the No. 7 seed delighted—and, perhaps, perplexed—fans by pretending to take a slug from a bottle, then performing a shoulder-shaking dance.
This, he said, was to send a message to his daughter on her eighth birthday, explaining that the choreography is from the chart-topping song “Soda Pop” from her fave film, KPop Demon Hunters, Netflix's most watched movie ever.
“We are at home doing different choreographies, and this is one of them,” the Serb superstar said while still on court. “Hopefully I’ll make her smile when she wakes up in the morning.”
Djokovic, who is in the hunt for his 25th Grand Slam singles title, has also reprised his impression of a violin virtuoso, tucking his racquet under his chin to use as an instrument. This move was inspired by Tara too, who had just learned to play when he concocted it two years ago.
While Djokovic “soda-pops” his way into the semifinals, other winners are showcasing new moves too. Here’s a look at some signature celebrations—and what they mean.
Alcarez takes a swing
Who will be celebrating after Friday’s match between Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz? On his way into the semifinal showdown, the Spanish star has used his racquet to simulate a golf swing, a gesture he directed toward golfing great (and pal) Rory McIlroy, who was in the stadium when Alcarez beat Reilly Opelka in Round 1.
“I think I own it,” Alcarez said of the move after he swung a second time, celebrating his Round 2 defeat of Mattia Bellucci.
Fernandez learns the Williams twirl
Both Serena and Venus Williams performed a patented twirl after winning matches. This year, when Venus advanced to the Round of 16 with her “second-favorite” doubles partner Leylah Fernandez, the 45-year-old champion spun around for the crowd—and then Fernadez followed suit with her own version of the twirl.
Doubles duo Cash and Tracy do the chest bump
In an apparent homage to doubles greats Mike and Bob Bryan, who were inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame right before the 2025 US Open, the American team of Robert Cash and JJ Tracy—now into the mens’ doubles semifinals—are reviving the twins’ iconic chest bump. Here’s a note to players tempted to try the jump-and-bump at home: it’s easier if your partner is the same size. Like a, you know, twin.
An alternative move for height-mismatched doubles partners? Look no further than the on-court celebration performed by 6-foot-4 Andrea Vavassori and 5-foot-5 Sara Errani, this year’s mixed-doubles champs: They smash their foreheads together.
Wong hits the deck
The 2025 US Open is not yet over, but we already miss the unabashedly exuberant on-court celebrations staged by qualifier Coleman Wong, who fell onto his back after his first-round, main-draw win, a move mostly seen after Grand Slam championship victories. But for the No. 173 Wong, whose run would continue would into Round 3 here—the first from his native Hong Kong to achieve that at any major—the victory was no less special.
