Rafael Nadal was initially not liked by tennis fans as many people liked the “most favorite player” Roger Federer, but Novak changed things after reaching the spot of Djokovic.
This is a view of former World No. 6 Gills Simon in a comprehensive interview.
Big three DjokovichNadal and Federer dominated men’s tennis for the best part of two decades as they shared 66 Grand Slam between them and made many other milestones on the way.
Federer He initially made a way as his major success in Wimbledon in 2003, but reached Nadal in 2005 with his French open title and formed Big to.
Djokovic – who won his first major at the 2008 Australian Open – then made it Big Three and eventually broke several records of Federer and Nadal, including the Open Era Grand Slam record as he sits with 22 on 24 and Nadal at Federer 20.
But Djokovic has not always found Federer’s love and affection and Nadal As fans did not like the fact that they broke the original Big to.
In an interview with RG Media And SoilSimon says that Nadal was also an excluded initially.
French said, “Remember, Roger was the most loved player, maybe ever. And most of the fans never liked Rafa when he showed,” said French.
“But they started liking him more when Novak came to the scene. I am 100% sure. Rafa once started comparing fans to Novak instead of Roger.”
He said: “Novak was already the best when he arrived, but he was still behind Roger and Rafa.
“I don’t think many people believed that he would cross them – not even Roger and Rafa. So when they started doing so, people did not like it. Everyone loved Roger -Rafa rivalry. They did not want a third man.”
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According to Simon, Djokovic has always been “true to himself” and his decision not to vaccinate against Kovid -19 proved this.
Serbian was maligned to Australia in 2022, when he refused to vaccinate and later recalled several other major events including the 2023 US Open.
The 14-time ATP Tour Singles title winner said, “He was a ‘villain’, but here I praise the most-that is true for myself. For example, forbidden the vaccine, forbid the vaccine, even though it means to give a slam record. They did not fake it.”
“Initially, he tried to please everyone, attracted more attention, and it stopped as inhuman. Finally, he said: ‘This is what I am. I am Novak Djokovic. Or not like me or not – I know who I am.’ That kind of attitude respected him.
The French feels that the 24 -time Grand Slam winner is finally getting the love he deserves, he said: “When he said that he wanted to break Roger and Rafa’s record, people thought it was arrogant.
“But now that he has done it – you have to give a tip to your hat. He has earned respect, and now he is falling in love with fans and the entire tennis world. It was not in the beginning.”
