Why Novak Djokovic fails to connect with fans as much as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal do
Even after losing the 2023 Wimbledon title to Carlos Alcaraz last week, Novak Djokovic stands as an icon whose success every tennis player on the planet wishes to replicate.
With 94 trophies in his cabinet, including 23 Grand Slam titles, and $171,254,424 in the bank as prize money, the Serb remains the most successful athlete to have ever stepped on a tennis court in the Open Era. He has done it all and better than anyone else, including his biggest rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Djokovic has spent 389 weeks as the World No. 1 in the ATP rankings. The second best is Federer, who spent 310 weeks, which is around a year and a half less than the World No. 2. Nadal sits way behind at the sixth spot, with 209 weeks as top-ranked. Djokovic also leads the head-to-head against the Swiss and the Spaniard. He has beaten Federer 27 times in 50 matches and Nadal 30 times in 59 matches.
One might argue that Nadal, still active, is at par with the Serb when it comes to winning titles, but the Spaniard's legacy is centered around clay. He last won Wimbledon in 2010, whereas Djokovic has kept winning Slams on every surface.
Not many would bet on Federer's backhand at the French Open or on Nadal's topspin at the Championships. On the other hand, Djokovic enters every Grand Slam tournament as the top contender. The Serb's record speaks volumes of his versatility; he is the only man with his name on every Major trophy at least thrice.
Yet, he doesn't always leave a pleasant impression on the fans when he sets foot inside an arena.
Djokovic's rise came at a time when every tennis fan had made up their mind that Federer and Nadal were going to be the only superstars in the coming years. Djokovic won his first Major, the Australian Open, in 2008, when Federer's tally was already 12. For the next couple of years, Djokovic lay low while Nadal won one trophy after the other.
It was only after winning his second Australian Open in 2011 that Djokovic announced himself as the third musketeer. He then outdid crowd-favorite Nadal in three consecutive Grand Slam finals, in London, New York, and Melbourne (2012).
The Serb had also emerged as a resolute challenger to Federer, beating him in the semifinals on numerous occasions. Djokovic first defeated everyone's darling Federer in a final at the 2014 Championships, and he did it again the next year. Fans soon developed a dislike for the Serb, and the boos against him started echoing deeper.
Another reason for the strong opposition from the stands against Djokovic was the Federer-Nadal friendship. The two rivals formed a cordial relationship, which helped them compound their already huge fanbase. And the fanbase now had a common enemy — Djokovic. No matter where and whom the Serb played against, he was taunted.
But Djokovic the player never held back. He fought the crowd as much as he did the opponent. He would blow kisses, scream, put a finger on his ear, and tell those against him to jeer louder after every point he won. He talked about this at a press conference too, back in 2018.
"There's an unwritten borderline where you just feel it's a bit too much. I can tolerate it a little but I'm going to show that I'm there as well and the haters can't do whatever they feel like doing," the 36-year-old had said.
The enemy, therefore, turned into a villain for the fans.
Novak Djokovic - An uncanny mix of elegance and power
Novak Djokovic is an uncanny mixture of elegance and power. The Serb is neither as smooth as Roger Federer on the court nor does he rely on brutal strength as Rafael Nadal does. Some claim the 36-year-old's game style is not unique enough to amaze a spectator.
Djokovic's backhand doesn't have Federer's elegance. His forehand doesn't have Nadal's power. The viewer rarely expects something extraordinary from the Serb's side of the court during a rally, but he always hangs tough. He's not afraid to look ugly while sliding in his labor to make a return.
Determined to stay there until the end, the winner of 23 Major keeps winning points, games, sets, matches, and Grand Slams. But will he ever be the darling of the fans?
Probably not.