Google News Marion Bartoli: For 20 years, we've been spoilt to have Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal
by DZEVAD MESIC | VIEW 5582
2013 Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli says tennis fans "have been very spoilt" to have Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer for the past 20 years. Bartoli believes Nadal and Federer have different personalities so it's easier for tennis fans to side with one or the other.
"For 20 years, we've been very spoilt to have Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal coming with so different personalities that people could actually sit on one side or the other," Bartoli said on Tennis Majors, as revealed on Sportskeeda.
"You either love Nadal or love Federer." Bartoli said Nadal has his own personality and changing it would be impossible. "Rafael Nadal has his own personality when he comes on court. He's just himself and you can't just ask somebody to just duplicate or replicate who someone used to be," Bartoli said.
"You are who you are. You come with your personality."
Bartoli says Pete Sampras was Federer's idol
"Pete Sampras just inspired generations and generations of players. He was the idol of Roger, of Novak, and of so many players because he was just winning," Bartoli said.
"Who cares if you have the personality of Agassi or not?" Bartoli thinks that judging someone based on their personality is wrong. "It's entirely false and wrong to judge someone on their personality," Bartoli said. "You have to judge them on what they're winning, what they're able to bring on the court, the tennis level they're bringing." Bartoli suggested Djokovic has the killer's mentality on the court but off the court he is a very selfless and generous person.
"I know Novak very well," Bartoli said. "Contrary to popular belief, Novak is a selfless and generous person, but also extremely intelligent. Novak's approach is not to create a counter-power or to exert pressure. He just wants to defend the interests of the little ones (lower-ranked players), allow them to earn more money, to have more means."
