“I Was Never Loved Like Federer or Nadal”: Novak Djokovic Opens Up on Fan Perception and Rivalry.
Novak Djokovic has opened up about the emotional toll of being the “third man” in tennis’ golden era, acknowledging that he was never embraced by fans in the same way as his legendary rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Djokovic, Federer, and Nadal—collectively known as the ‘Big 3’—have dominated men’s tennis for nearly two decades, amassing 66 Grand Slam titles among them. Despite surpassing many of their records, Djokovic admitted he often felt like an outsider.
“I acted and still felt like an unwanted child,” Djokovic said. “I asked myself why that was. It hurt. I thought fans would accept me if I acted differently. But that wasn’t the case either.”
The Serbian star, a year younger than Nadal and five years younger than Federer, reached his peak a little later, but quickly climbed to the top of the rankings by 2011. His rise, however, wasn’t met with the same affection Federer and Nadal enjoyed.
“I was never as loved as Federer and Nadal because I wasn’t supposed to be there,” he said. “I was the little guy, the third one, who came along and said, ‘I’m going to be No.1.’ A lot of people didn’t like that.”
Respect Over Rivalry
Despite the intense competition, Djokovic clarified that there was never any hatred between him and his rivals. He maintained deep respect for both Federer and Nadal and acknowledged their influence on his career. “Just because someone is your biggest rival doesn’t mean you wish them harm or hate them,” he explained. “We played to win. Whoever was better that day won. That’s it.”
Interestingly, Djokovic revealed that he shared a more personal comfort with Nadal over the years. “I’ve always respected both him and Federer,” he said. “I’ve never spoken badly about them and never will. I looked up to them, and I still do. But I’ve always gotten along better with Nadal.”
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