K-Pop Demon Hunters Hits the Tennis Court: Djokovic Marks Semifinal Spot with “Soda Pop” Dance

[OSENWORLD] Novak Djokovic, the Serbian legend ranked No. 7 in the world, grabbed headlines at the U.S. Open not only for reaching the semifinals but also for the way he celebrated.

On Sept. 2 (local time), Djokovic defeated last year’s runner-up Taylor Fritz of the U.S. (27, ranked No. 4) in the men’s singles quarterfinals at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. Djokovic secured a 3–1 victory (6–3, 7–5, 3–6, 6–4) to book his place in the last four.

But it was his post-match celebration that went viral. Holding his racket, Djokovic broke into the “Soda Pop” dance — a viral routine from the soundtrack of Netflix’s animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters (often shortened to “KDH”), performed by the fictional idol group Saja Boys. The moment delighted fans in the stadium and beyond.

The routine wasn’t random — it was a birthday gift for his daughter. “This will be a big present for her,” Djokovic said afterward. “She taught me the moves, and tomorrow she’ll get to judge how well I did. Soda Pop is from K-Pop Demon Hunters, and it’s really popular among kids and teenagers worldwide. I only found out a few months ago when my daughter told me about it. We even practiced the choreography together at home. I just hope she wakes up smiling tomorrow.”

K-Pop Demon Hunters is an action-fantasy animation about superstar idols Lumi, Mira, and Joy, who secretly fight to protect the world behind the stage. On Sept. 3, the film surpassed Squid Game to become the most-watched title in Netflix history, while its soundtrack single “Golden” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, underscoring the film’s global cultural impact.

/k_inside@osen.co.kr

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