"It gave him inner strength" - Novak Djokovic coming across "a little arrogant" helped him reach greater heights, believes former hitting partner
Novak Djokovic's former hitting partner, Mike Digby, claimed that the Serb's somewhat unconventional "arrogant" attitude has played a significant role in his ascent to success. Besides Djokovic, Digby has worked with other tennis greats, including Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
When Djokovic burst onto the scene, he raised eyebrows with his distinct persona both on and off the court, especially in contrast to Nadal and Federer, who were often seen as humble and reserved. Controversies, such as his refusal to get vaccinated for COVID-19, further complicated the 24-time Grand Slam champion's image, contributing to his perception as a villain in the eyes of many.
However, Digby said during an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda that while many may judge Djokovic for this demeanor, it has ultimately been effective in putting considerable pressure on his opponents.
"A lot of people judge him for that, but I think what we always have to understand is that everyone competes in a different way. Everyone has different competitive skills that helps them ultimately put the opponent under as much pressure as possible," Digby said.
"Djokovic does it in a way that can sometimes come across as a little bit arrogant, but like I said, would he be who he is and would he have had the success that he did have if he didn't have that bit of edge to him? I'd argue maybe not," he added.
The British coach, who is currently working with WTA World No. 202 Tamara Zidansek, further emphasized that Djokovic's attitude helped him break the 'Big 2' dynamic and paved the way for the emergence of the 'Big 3' that we know today.
"I think that gave him the will and the determination to go, ‘You know what? I don't like the name, the Big 2, I want it to be the Big 3.’ It gave him a little bit of inner strength to be able to, to just start poking at these two until he's found a way in and when the rest is history," Mike Digby said.
Novak Djokovic to participate in Shanghai Masters following US Open setback
Novak Djokovic had a disappointing outing at the US Open last month, failing to defend his title after losing to Alexei Popyrin in the third round. The Serb is set to finish the season without winning a Grand Slam for the first time since 2017.
Djokovic has moved on and arrived in China to compete in the Shanghai Masters (October 2-13). He is the most successful player in the tournament's history, having won the title four times.
The Serb has a challenging draw in Shanghai, beginning his campaign against either Alex Michelsen or Yunchaokete Bu in the second round, having received a first-round bye. He could then potentially face Stan Wawrinka, Frances Tiafoe, Andrey Rublev, or Alexander Zverev before possibly meeting either Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz in the final.