Tennis fans have taken to social media to fume after the BBC cut off coverage of the men’s singles Olympic final between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz midway through. Roland Garros hosted a mouthwatering showdown at the 2024 Olympics, but it was only shown on BBC1 for minutes before switching over to the gymnastics.
Alcaraz and Djokovic met in a blockbuster rematch of July’s Wimbledon final, which the former dominated in a straight-set triumph.
But those tuning into the highly-anticipated clash on BBC1 were left disappointed as the coverage shifted to the women’s uneven bars final at the Bercy Arena.
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@J_RKeith posted on X: “BBC: ‘You enjoying Tennis? Good, right?’ ‘Yeah. Good stuff.’ BBC: ‘Nice, here’s the Gymnastics.’ ‘Oh, right.'”
@AlexTalksTennis wrote: “One of the all-time great sets, and the BBC now isn’t broadcasting the second between Alcaraz and Djokovic. I know there’s loads going on but it’s just not good enough when it’s such a historic final.”
@DonaldoK87 used more fruitful language to display his frustration: “Have the BBC really left this belting tennis match for f*****g gymnastics and shooting? Jesus wept.”
@Nath1990_ was similarly upset: “Why has BBC changed the tennis – that I’ve specifically selected to watch on iPlayer – to some f*****g shooting c**p, right at the first set tie break is starting? F*****g idiots.”
@Sports_Critique added: “The BBC’s coverage of this Olympics has been f*****g abysmal. You literally can’t watch a single event from start to finish. The tennis final has gone from appearing late on iPlayer, then switching to BBC1 for 10 minutes, then disappearing altogether! Thank f**k for IPTV.”
@lawrence_bury ranted: “This is why I have grave concerns paying my TV license. Where’s my money going? BBC make editorial decision to end the coverage of a huge tennis match for someone firing a nerf gun at a cork board in a field in France.”
@stu_fraser was happy to rely on another broadcaster: “Djokovic v Alcaraz really highlighting the BBC’s Olympic rights limitations here. After showing the best first set of tennis this year, the only option to continue following the action is the website live text. Thankfully, there is a reliable stream of the match on Discovery+.”
A stream of the men’s singles final was shown on BBC iPlayer, but that didn’t prevent the uproar for fans preferring to watch live on their televisions.
Djokovic is looking to add a maiden Olympic gold medal to his 24 career Grand Slams, likely at the final opportunity.
Alcaraz, 21, is 16 years younger than the iconic Serb, and the reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion is vying to clinch Olympic gold at the first time of asking.
Djokovic took the first set in the best-of-three encounter on the clay, winning a tiebreak 7-3.
