Novak Djokovic admitted that he was the third guy in tennis and wasn’t loved like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal during their playing days. Djokovic, along with Nadal and Federer, formed the Big 3 in tennis, and they have won a total of 66 grand slam titles between the trio. The Serbian is a year younger than Nadal and five years younger than Federer and reached the top level a bit later than his Big 3 counterparts.
He was able to climb to the top of the standings by 2011 and has surpassed all the major records held by Nadal and Federer, but admitted that he acted like an unwanted child and thought the fans would accept him if he acted differently.
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“I acted and still felt like an unwanted child. I asked myself why that was. It hurt me. Then I thought the fans would accept me if I acted differently. But that wasn’t the case either,” said Djokovic.
Djokovic said that he was the little guy in the trio and many people didn’t like his confidence when he said he would be World No.1.
“I was never as loved as Federer and Nadal because I wasn’t supposed to be there. 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,” said Djokovic.
‘Always got along better with Nadal’
Despite sharing an intense rivalry with Federer and Nadal, Djokovic said that he never hated them and wished harm on them.
“Just because someone is my biggest rival doesn’t mean I wish them harm, hate them, or want to do anything else on the court to defeat them. We fought for the win, and the better player won.”
Djokovic also said that he respected the duo but always got along better with Nadal.
“I’ve always respected both him and Federer; I’ve never said a single bad word about them and never will. I looked up to them and still do. But I’ve always gotten along better with Nadal.”