Explain this

Lew II

G.O.A.T.
Why is Safin loved despite he broke 2000 racquets?
Why is Nalbandian loved despite he made a linesman bleed?
Why is McEnroe loved despite being a total jerk on the court?

While Djokovic isn't.

I still think it does not depend on the behaviour, and it all has to do with the fact that he broke the Fedal duopoly and comes from Serbia.
 

Lleytonstation

Talk Tennis Guru
Why is Safin loved despite he broke 2000 racquets?
Why is Nalbandian loved despite he made a linesman bleed?
Why is McEnroe loved despite being a total jerk on the court?

While Djokovic isn't.

I still think it does not depend on the behaviour, and it all has to do with the fact that he broke the Fedal duopoly and comes from Serbia.
Why is Safin loved despite he broke 2000 racquets?
Why is Nalbandian loved despite he made a linesman bleed?
Why is McEnroe loved despite being a total jerk on the court?

While Djokovic isn't.

I still think it does not depend on the behaviour, and it all has to do with the fact that he broke the Fedal duopoly and comes from Serbia.
What about the many many people who have disliked him since 08? Or before he had any chance?

Djoker has never been liked since the beginning.
 

ABCD

Hall of Fame
Why is Safin loved despite he broke 2000 racquets?
Why is Nalbandian loved despite he made a linesman bleed?
Why is McEnroe loved despite being a total jerk on the court?

While Djokovic isn't.

I still think it does not depend on the behaviour, and it all has to do with the fact that he broke the Fedal duopoly and comes from Serbia.

Djokovic is the best tennis player ever and anyone who understands tennis knows that.
 

FD3S

Hall of Fame
Safin for all his mental foibles had natural charisma that Djokovic doesn't possess, along with the more important fact that breaking 2000 racquets is still preferable to inadvertently injuring even one person. As for Nalbandian and Mac, Nalby was being vilified at the time just as Djokovic is now (also keep in mind Queens isn't a major with massive media coverage) and during his heyday just as many people swore at Mac as they did by Mac. By no means were they universally loved as your post seemingly tries to imply; what you're seeing with them is the passage of time at work, softening McEnroe's antics and Nalbandian losing his head. No more, no less.
 
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ForehandCross

G.O.A.T.
Why is Safin loved despite he broke 2000 racquets?
Why is Nalbandian loved despite he made a linesman bleed?
Why is McEnroe loved despite being a total jerk on the court?

While Djokovic isn't.

I still think it does not depend on the behaviour, and it all has to do with the fact that he broke the Fedal duopoly and comes from Serbia.
I have said it before, the core dedicated tennis fandom is very static and there's no great inflow of fans, they were already divided into extremely loyal Fedal camps by 2007-08. Tennis of 2010s was supposed to be their story.

When Djokovic broke through the duopoly , people resented him for being the spoilsport. Then hated him for rising above both.

It has nothing to do with how he behaves or where he comes from. It has a lot to do with rising above the supporting role he was supposed to play in the Fedal story and breaking the status quo.


The bias against being Serbian issue gets only reflected nowadays in media coverage.


There hasn't really been any significant inflow of dedicated tennis fans ,and thee casuals only care for those that media promotes.

Hence Djokovic isn't really as liked as he should be.
But in the end, that doesn't matter.
 

ABCD

Hall of Fame
What does that have to do with being disliked?

That is easy question. My whole life media were telling me that player X/Y is the best ever. Now, deep in my heart I realized that it was a lie. Am I that naive? Can I be manipulated? Is everything else in my life also a lie? Is everything I believe in lie?
 

Lleytonstation

Talk Tennis Guru
That is easy question. My whole life media were telling me that player X/Y is the best ever. Now, deep in my heart I realized that it was a lie. Am I that naive? Can I be manipulated? Is everything else in my life also a lie? Is everything I believe in lie?
Djokovic being disliked his because of his attitude and personality. It is also why many like him.

Being the best tennis player only helps him be more liked.
 

zipplock

Hall of Fame
Why is Safin loved despite he broke 2000 racquets?
Why is Nalbandian loved despite he made a linesman bleed?
Why is McEnroe loved despite being a total jerk on the court?

While Djokovic isn't.

I still think it does not depend on the behaviour, and it all has to do with the fact that he broke the Fedal duopoly and comes from Serbia.
He is Lendl 2.0
 

TMF

Talk Tennis Guru
Why is Safin loved despite he broke 2000 racquets?
Why is Nalbandian loved despite he made a linesman bleed?
Why is McEnroe loved despite being a total jerk on the court?

While Djokovic isn't.

I still think it does not depend on the behaviour, and it all has to do with the fact that he broke the Fedal duopoly and comes from Serbia.

funny-sad-face-gif-7.gif
 

Third Serve

Talk Tennis Guru
Djokovic has a lot of fans. He's only "not loved" when you're drawing comparisons to the some of the most popular tennis players of all time, namely Federer and Nadal.

Though I don't hate Djokovic, I prefer Fedal by a lot because I simply find their games much more enjoyable to watch. Their better on-court attitudes also help.
 

Red Rick

Bionic Poster
Why is Safin loved despite he broke 2000 racquets?
Why is Nalbandian loved despite he made a linesman bleed?
Why is McEnroe loved despite being a total jerk on the court?

While Djokovic isn't.

I still think it does not depend on the behaviour, and it all has to do with the fact that he broke the Fedal duopoly and comes from Serbia.
You're missing like 3 things

15-40
40-15
and most importantly

40-15
 

Jonas78

Legend
I dont judge Djoker, a lot of players could have done something like that. He was extremely unlucky, because the combination of unnecessary aggrevated behavior and hitting a lineswoman left the ump no choice. I think that most people dont see Djoker different because of this.
 

ABCD

Hall of Fame
Because he is fake. Always has been. He has tried too hard to be liked since his joking days when he did impersonations. When he started his possum act at USO years before he was winning slams.

That is superficial; not deep enough. Why it is problem for you when someone likes to be liked, particularly when this someone just tries to fit in after being hated his whole life up to that point without being any guilty of anything (international sanctions, bombing etc.)? Why do you think that you interpret his health issues as "playing possum"?
 

Lleytonstation

Talk Tennis Guru
That is superficial; not deep enough. Why it is problem for you when someone likes to be liked, particularly when this someone just tries to fit in after being hated his whole life up to that point without being any guilty of anything (international sanctions, bombing etc.)? Why do you think that you interpret his health issues as "playing possum"?
Because that is how I see it. I should not change my opinions because some people disagree.
 

tenisdecente

Hall of Fame
They were jerks yet charasmactic and felt all their emotions were genuine.. With Novak it all looks staged and he appears just a jerk

This x 1000. The guy looks as fake as Lady Gaga. I would like him a lot more if he would take the villain role a-la-Lendl. Lendl was a monster player and also likable because he looked authentic. Djokovic is so cringeworthy with his tries to be liked (like those awful shows this US Open in an empty stadium - lol) that makes him unbearable. I would love to see him mocking Nadal and Federer and trying to show them that he is the villain trying to take their records. That would be epic as @MichaelNadal would say
 

Lew II

G.O.A.T.
This x 1000. The guy looks as fake as Lady Gaga. I would like him a lot more if he would take the villain role a-la-Lendl. Lendl was a monster player and also likable because he looked authentic. Djokovic is so cringeworthy with his tries to be liked (like those awful shows this US Open in an empty stadium - lol) that makes him unbearable. I would love to see him mocking Nadal and Federer and trying to show them that he is the villain trying to take their records. That would be epic as @MichaelNadal would say
Lendl is totally different from Djokovic. He's an introvert, while Djokovic is an extrovert.
 

terribleIVAN

Hall of Fame
Because right from the start, he wanted it all and resented the fact Rafa and Fed were more appreciated.

He had the "Me against the world" attitude, a big sense of entitlement and wasn't very subtle about it either.

I have to confess i never liked it at first. But after watching him break the Rafa-Fed duopoly, something almost no one could have foreseen, i have no problem giving him his dues.

He deserved everything he gained, and i do hope he breaks the 20 slam record, although i believe he blew his last chance yesterday.
 

PilotPete

Hall of Fame
Don't think this is true. Nadal also upended the Fed train. Yes Nadal may be hated by many Fed fans, but most fans overall like him. Djokovic did to Fedal what Nadal did to Fed, yet overall Djokovic is not liked as much as Nadal except by his crazy fans, many of whom have comment above. So it's another reason that he is not liked as much. Probably something to do with the way he carries himself.
 

Mainad

Bionic Poster
I highly doubt that McEnroe was ever loved although his tennis skills deservedly drew much admiration. What is probably the main difference between those guys and Djokovic is that they never sought to be loved. They just acted the way they were. The crowd's reactions didn't bother them one way or the other. Thus they came off as kind of cool. By contrast Djokovic comes off as a bit needy with his boob throwing "love me, love me" gestures. It doesn't look cool. I don't know...just my twopennyworth.
 

TheGhostOfAgassi

Talk Tennis Guru
I don’t get how anyone can be a fan of Novak over Rafa. I can’t understand why Federer is the most popular either.

I also don’t understand for example how Brad Pitt is considered a hot shot and that Kardiashrians are so popular.

Who cares really, we like what we like and life is too short to be annoyed at people having other opinions and preferences.
 

alexio

G.O.A.T.
I don’t get how anyone can be a fan of Novak over Rafa. I can’t understand why Federer is the most popular either.

I also don’t understand for example how Brad Pitt is considered a hot shot and that Kardiashrians are so popular.
same stuff as some like brunettes, some blondes, some like tall, some short etc. ...you get one thing, but don't get another..que pasa paradox
 

junior74

Talk Tennis Guru
Lol Djokovic is not "hated".

It's just Fed and Bull have more fans and the majority of those fans dislike/hate Djokovic because of his rivalry with their idols. It's that simple really.

Agreed. And it goes both/ all ways.

I like tennis players based on the tennis they play. To me, Federer is more exciting to watch than Djokovic, this is because I prefer attacking tennis. Always have, always will. I don't really care about what they are like as persons, we don't even know their private side at all.
 
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TheGhostOfAgassi

Talk Tennis Guru
same stuff as some like brunettes, some blondes, some like tall, some short etc. ...you get one thing, but don't get another..que pasa paradox
We like what we like and that’s how it is. Can not force anyone to like something, it has actually the opposite effect (exactly what many Novak fans are doing, finding explanations why he isn’t as liked and try to make the person seem like a bad person for not liking him)
 
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Deleted member 770948

Guest
Why is Safin loved despite he broke 2000 racquets?
Why is Nalbandian loved despite he made a linesman bleed?
Why is McEnroe loved despite being a total jerk on the court?

While Djokovic isn't.

I still think it does not depend on the behaviour, and it all has to do with the fact that he broke the Fedal duopoly and comes from Serbia.
Djokovic has an annoying face and boring game (his swings are boring).
Sharapova also has an annoying face and boring game (ball-basher, lacks variety).
I just don't like seeing them on the television screen.
 

TJfederer16

Hall of Fame
Because he’s an unbearably religious/spiritual weirdo that professes bizarre beliefs that go against science and reason. That’s where my main dislike comes from. He just comes across as one of those preachy nutjobs.
 
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Deleted member 770948

Guest
He's fine, just boring. Nadal however, is appalling.
Nadal has the most entertaining swings I've ever seen, on both wings, and even his service motion is unique, and his volleys are awesome and brilliant drop shots and net-tweener-
 
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