Tennis players you started off as a hater of and then became a fan

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Citizens, any examples you wish to share about where you initially didn't like a player, but ultimately ended up as their fan. What was the turning point that made it happen for you?

A classic example for me was Richard Krajicek - Didn't like it one bit when he beat Sampras at Wimbledon 1996, though I did respect the insane level of tennis he produced that week. The following year he was due to face Tim Henman, now I was no Henman fan either at the time, but pre-match Richard said that he was going to blow Henman off the court....for Henman to then kick his butt and knock him out of the event was probably more satisfying than watching Sampras regain his crown later that event.

But by the time 98 came around, I started to warm up to him, he great effort in 98 to reach the semis and lose an absolute classic to one of my favs of all time, Ivanisevic. Then learning more about the amazing work he was doing outside the court for helping teenagers and young adults find something productive through sport, helped me learn more and more about the true class act he actually was. And finally the way he has run the Rotterdam tournament set an example for many other tennis players who would follow that path.

Today I can say I am truly a fan of this guy, a far cry from the days when I watched him during his glory days.
 
I never hated Fed, just his early years cockiness was a bit of a turn off. More so just coming from the Agassi/Sampras era I didn't like some young punk beating up on my heroes of the day. Did come to appreciate him more over the years, especially when Nadal jumped in and the two defined the latest tennis era. The quality of character and play was epic. The later years Fed has been just exemplary to me, which is a stark contrast to my earliest position.

EDIT TO ADD: Rune might end up in the same boat for me, but will have to see if the attitude changes.
 
ChaelAZ said:
I never hated Fed, just his early years cockiness was a bit of a turn off. More so just coming from the Agassi/Sampras era I didn't like some young punk beating up on my heroes of the day. Did come to appreciate him more over the years, especially when Nadal jumped in and the two defined the latest tennis era. The quality of character and play was epic. The later years Fed has been just exemplary to me, which is a stark contrast to my earliest position.

EDIT TO ADD: Rune might end up in the same boat for me, but will have to see if the attitude changes.
Click to expand...

Rune will never stop being Danish though.
 
Federer. Didn't know who he was, didn't rate him at all. Thought he was just a joke post-PETE. I was wrong
 
Novak Djokovix

I believed the media narrative. When I looked closely and especially after COVID I understood his greatness.
 
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TVs became popular in my region in early 1990s - the state-owned channel (the only channel available) used to broadcast some tennis matches - me and my sister were initially big fans of Jim Courier and then this guy comes along and starts beating Courier and every one else on tour - so there was intense dislike for PETE initially - took some years to realize the greatness of the man.
 
I used to be a fervent advocate of ABZ but since i saw him at an event, I came to realize he was just an arrogant boy, someone who was in a diffcult situation for anybody to navigate, fame and money for a 22 year old? obviously he´s gonna act like he was on top of the world, he have matured since those days and I don´t see him the same way, wouldn´t say I´m a fan of his but I don´t hate him anymore.
 
I started off hating Djokovic and now I root for him the most. Because I want to see the true GOAT be GOAT
 
Great thread.
I would say Agassi; I was always a Sampras fan.
But he really grew on me, both him as a person and his game, which is one of the most unique and perfectly honed games I've ever seen in tennis.
The guy is just a phenomenal ball striker and I still watch him hit balls today because it's so nice to witness.

The other one would be Courier. I didn't like his game and despised the fact he often beat my favourite Edberg. But post-tennis he is among my favourite commentators and probably the smartest ex-tennis player I've ever heard speak.
 
Nadal
Djokovic
was a die hard Fed fan, but more and more appreciated the genius of all 3 of them.

Medvedev
Bublik.
Was hard to take them seriously, but not taking them too seriously helped to like them actually
 
HFK said:
Rune will never stop being Danish though.
Click to expand...
Denmark is beautiful.

Nyhavn-pier-Denmark.jpg


Mols-Bjerge-National-Park.jpg
 
ScentOfDefeat said:
Great thread.
I would say Agassi; I was always a Sampras fan.
But he really grew on me, both him as a person and his game, which is one of the most unique and perfectly honed games I've ever seen in tennis.
The guy is just a phenomenal ball striker and I still watch him hit balls today because it's so nice to witness.

The other one would be Courier. I didn't like his game and despised the fact he often beat my favourite Edberg. But post-tennis he is among my favourite commentators and probably the smartest ex-tennis player I've ever heard speak.
Click to expand...

Courier is the biggest Rafaelito Simp in the media by far, and that's a high bar to clear. I can't stand listening to him, he even talks about Rafa and his injuries when he's commentating on other players' matches. He just can't help himself and IMO that is totally disrespectful to the other players
 
Hated McEnroe when he was playing (although I always respected his talent and his results) but, post retirement, have grown quite fond of him especially when he revealed his unexpected sense of humour (even self-deprecating) on programmes like Game, Set & Mats (sadly now replaced by The Cube) and his open support for LGBTQ issues.

Lendl was another. Couldn't stand him as a player (although, like JMac, always respected his talent) but grew to appreciate him a lot more especially since he helped coach Murray to Slam titles and the #1 spot.

Many players you couldn't stand at the time have mellowed considerably and revealed more appealing sides to them since they stopped playing.
 
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