Djokovic Reflects on Rivalry, Fan Support: “I Was Never Loved Like Federer or Nadal”
Novak Djokovic has candidly acknowledged the emotional struggles he faced during his rise in tennis, admitting he often felt like an outsider compared to his legendary rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Together, the trio formed the iconic “Big 3” of tennis, amassing a combined 66 Grand Slam titles. Yet despite surpassing both Federer and Nadal in several statistical records, Djokovic said he was never embraced by fans in the same way.
“I was never as loved as Federer and Nadal because I wasn’t supposed to be there,” Djokovic said in a recent interview. “I was the little guy, the third guy who came along and said, ‘I’m going to be number one.’ Many people didn’t like that.”
The Serbian, who is a year younger than Nadal and five years junior to Federer, reached the top tier of the sport a bit later. By 2011, he had begun his dominance, but the lack of public affection lingered.
“I acted and still felt like an unwanted child,” he admitted. “I asked myself why that was. It hurt me. Then I thought fans would accept me if I acted differently. But that wasn’t the case either.”
No Hate, Only Respect
Despite fierce rivalries on the court, Djokovic emphasized he never bore ill will toward Federer or Nadal. “Just because someone is my biggest rival doesn’t mean I hate them or wish them harm. We competed for the win — and the better player won,” he said.
He also reiterated the deep respect he holds for both, noting that his personal rapport was always a bit stronger with Rafael Nadal. “I’ve always respected both of them. I’ve never said a bad word about them and never will. I looked up to them — and still do. But I’ve always gotten along better with Nadal,” he concluded.
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