Djokovic: 'I don’t expect the crowd to be on my side against Roger Federer and Nadal'

• Tennis News
• Roger Federer

There is no rational reason to explain why Novak Djokovic has always been able to count on fewer fans than the eternal rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. If you look at the numbers, the Serbian star is fast approaching the records of the Swiss and Spanish.

Indeed, according to many experts, Nole will end up being the best of the Big 3. However, the world's number 1 is the first to be aware that he will never be idolized as much as Roger and Rafa. Djokovic confirmed this in no uncertain terms during a 'LIVE session' with his friend Stan Wawrinka: “Honestly, at the beginning of my career, I thought it was not fair and that I deserved more support in my games against Rafa and Roger.

I was more emotional. But with my evolution as an athlete, I accepted”. “Roger is arguably the GOAT. A guy that it’s liked around the world. I don’t expect the crowd to be on my side and I’m ok with that because it’s Roger.

Very similar with Rafa. I think it’s more the greatness of them as people than me doing something wrong. It’s hard for me to answer why is it like that, am I contributing to that in a negative way that I’m taking away the crowd support from me? I don’t think so.

I think it’s more just the greatness of Roger Federer & Rafael Nadal" - he added. Djokovic and Federer have faced each other 50 times with Djokovic leading 27–23 (11–6 in Grand Slams). Djokovic leads 13–6 in finals.

Their matches includes a record 17 Grand Slam matches, 5 of which were finals, plus a record 11 semifinals. The rivalry between Djokovic and Nadal is the most prolific of the tennis Open Era. It is widely considered to be one of the greatest rivalries in tennis history by players, coaches, and pundits, and was listed as the third greatest rivalry in the 2000s decade in 2009 by ATPworldtour.com despite its only starting in 2006.