Novak Djokovic and Flavio Cobolli are making the shirt ripping victory celebration commonplace. I am old enough to remember US women’s soccer star Brandi Chastain who was criticized for taking her shirt off and exposing her sports bra in celebration of the 1999 World Cup win. In her case, no garments were destroyed in the celebration.
Happy Birthday to the iconic, Brandi Chastain ๐ pic.twitter.com/S1JRmcmACo
โ U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (@USWNT) July 21, 2025
Djokovic has been doing it for years, and recently Cobolli celebrated similarly after winning a key Davis Cup match for Italy.
Novak Djokovic
Lacoste pays tribute to Noleโฆ they don’t mind about the ripoed shirt ๐ โค๏ธ
โThe ๐ still got it ๐. Title n. 101, congratulations Novakโ pic.twitter.com/etgoaedmW8
โ แดแแฉแI ยฎ (@frani2312) November 9, 2025
It is not a constant in Djokovic’s celebratory toolbox, but it happens often when he experiences a big win. Most recently, Djokovic got his 101st ATP title in Athens right before the ATP Finals.
We saw it in his last Grand Slam win at the 2023 US Open.
All the people complaining about Novak Djokovic ripping his shirt yesterday are forgetting the most important fact and that is that the GOAT does what the GOAT wants. ๐คทโโ๏ธ pic.twitter.com/2hmEfnKS6g
โ Scott Barclay (@BarclayCard18) August 21, 2023
Flavio Cobolli
A star is born ๐#DavisCup pic.twitter.com/ASQB7ZRclg
โ Davis Cup (@DavisCup) November 21, 2025
Cobolli is a fiery, emotional Italian who won a big match for Italy in the Davis Cup.
As a result, he ripped his shirt in celebration.
With Cobolli joining Djokovic in this gesture, will it become more the norm?
As a practical matter, what exactly are these shirts made of that they are able to rip with such ease? Maybe it is the excess sweat and tears on them that make them more pliable, but it is still surprising how theatrical the ripped shirt celebration has become.
