For most of us it doesn’t / shouldn’t matter but pro sports at Novak’s level is basically an elite entertainment product.If only I'd known the purpose of this game was to be loved, I would've approached tennis very differently when I first picked up a racquet.
How stupid of me.
If you are unable to factor in the unusual nationalist component of Djokovic's fandom, that's because you willingly choose not to see it. It's a VERY different composition from the fandoms of the other legends, and it's noticeable at every Djokovic match of significance.
I reckon most tennis fans do like him. It's the causual viewers he's not popular with, and they are usually in majority. Real tennis fans wouldn't disrespect him the way the Melbourne crowd did.Kurt Angle asking crowd to chant You Suck
Kurt Angle getting angry at chant You Suck
Djokovic has flip flopped between heel and face run in span of 2 days lol between alcaraz and zverev match
He is very polarizing anti hero. He is not going to be universally loved at all. And that is fine.
Duh. Everyone knows this.
Novak is the GOAT. Rafa and Fed will always be more loved.
Djokovic is the clown who wasn't good enough to beat The Kings.Duh. Everyone knows this.
Novak is the GOAT. Rafa and Fed will always be more loved.
LOL, Beyond ridiculous!Of course he's not loved when he's achieved things through no competition and faking injuries.
He ate with this oneGerard Whateley, one of Australia's biggest sports journalist has weighed on the topic of Djokovic getting a statue at Melbourne park. He compared it with Nadal's situation in Paris:
"There’s a statue of Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros and it speaks to the love the Parisians have for Nadal, and that was enacted at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. It’s a Paris Games. Nadal is a Spaniard and he was featured like a hometown hero.
You walk into Roland Garros and there’s a beautiful silver statue of Nadal – because he is loved in that city.
Novak is not loved here. He can be admired for his achievements, but he’s not loved."
You can read the full article here:
https://sen.com.au/news/2025/01/28/fractious-australian-open-overshadowed-by-precious-prima-donnas
What do you guys think?
Mythical AFTbh it's amazing how Rafa won the FO crowd over the years.
From being labelled as a "topspin monkey", and the FO crowd cheering against him for many years (simply because they liked Fed's flair and "elegant" style more) to eventually...they loved him so much that they built him a statue.
Like their hero, The victim mentality.Djokovic and his fans have to be the most insecure desperate heels in all of sports. Most fans of disliked athletes can admit that their guy is hated and that they like them for that but Djokovic fans are the only one that bend themselves into pretzels to blame the hate on anything else other than the fact that their man is and has always been a complete knob.
If you are unable to factor in the unusual nationalist component of Djokovic's fandom, that's because you willingly choose not to see it. It's a VERY different composition from the fandoms of the other legends, and it's noticeable at every Djokovic match of significance.
Tbh it's amazing how Rafa won the FO crowd over the years.
From being labelled as a "topspin monkey", and the FO crowd cheering against him for many years (simply because they liked Fed's flair and "elegant" style more) to eventually...they loved him so much that they built him a statue.
Federer and Nadal fans crying in this thread over popularity. Don’t worry guys, that’s the only thing your two faves have going for them. 0 records between the two of them
Truth: The reality is he is not loved by most fans. Fans love Rafa and Roger far more and probably always will.He was cheered more than Alcaraz in that quarter final match.
And what is all this crap that no one likes him?
Devil's advocate; IMO unless you're someone that's being dragged along for whatever reason I'd argue that anyone in attendance at a major is absolutely a real fan. Casuals don't have the inclination to spend the money/time it would take to attend the AO in person; that's no small commitment for both, even if you're based in Australia.I reckon most tennis fans do like him. It's the causual viewers he's not popular with, and they are usually in majority. Real tennis fans wouldn't disrespect him the way the Melbourne crowd did.
Not quite.He also said him getting booed was a reasonable reaction because people don't love him. This guy is an idiot.
Then it's a shame. Djokovic, whether we like it or not, has achieved more in tennis than any other player before him. Even if we don't like him like Federer or Nadal, he deserves our respect.Devil's advocate; IMO unless you're someone that's being dragged along for whatever reason I'd argue that anyone in attendance at a major is absolutely a real fan. Casuals don't have the inclination to spend the money/time it would take to attend the AO in person; that's no small commitment for both, even if you're based in Australia.
you have been butthurt for a while, love it#facts
Djoker has ruined a lot of people's visions and wishful thinking of what the tennis goat should look like. The statue is going to be a great harsh reminder to those 'hurt"you have been butthurt for a while, love itsleep well
That's pretty much what he implied when he said "let's not pretend he's loved" as a conclusion to his tirade. He pretty clearly implied that justifies the fact he got booed.Not quite.
He said him getting booed was reasonable because he withdrew after one set, tickets are expensive, and it was an awful anticlimactic ending.
After that he talked about his not being loved.
I’m not saying it was reasonable or not. I’m just saying what he said.
Indeed. They arent many but they are noisy.That's just the Serbian-Australians in the audience.
When you are getting watched by a worlwide audience it really is that important.If only I'd known the purpose of this game was to be loved, I would've approached tennis very differently when I first picked up a racquet.
How stupid of me.
I'm the biggest Rafa fan of all time and will go to my grave thinking he's the best player who lived. But stats wise, I must concede that Novak has an impeccable, GOAT level CV.Djokovic is the clown who wasn't good enough to beat The Kings.
Federer-Nadal 2004-2010 will always be the 2 greatest players of all-time.
You'd have to be born in 2011 to think otherwise...
And even in 2011 when Fedal were no longer in physical prime form, Federer beat Djokovic at RG and was within a point of beating Djokovic at the US Open...
And in 2012 Federer beat Djokovic in 4 sets at Wimbledon!
And then Djokovic lost 6 of 7 matches to Nadal, including 2013 Canada and US Open![]()
Whateley on Djokovic's statue "Novak is not loved here. He can be admired by for his achievements, but he's not loved."
So you mean he does not deserve a statue?
I think that statues should be reserved for people who lived before the 20th century.I'm guessing Whately and others of similar mind think statues should be reserved for champions who were loved.
Would be interesting if they took a poll of Australian tennis fans on this to see how many agree with him....or not. .
Ivan Lendl has smart personality. Great no so much.Djokovic deserves a statue or some accolade at the Australian Open for his achievements there.
Djokovic will never be "loved" as much as Nadal or Federer but I ask, is tennis a popularity contest? No it isn't, so does it matter? Nope.
Djokovic is though more loved than Lendl was, Lendl was the measuring stick of champions nobody liked, very unfairly by the way as Ivan has a great personality and great sense of humor.
Why do facts have to hurt?Gerard Whateley, one of Australia's biggest sports journalist has weighed on the topic of Djokovic getting a statue at Melbourne park. He compared it with Nadal's situation in Paris:
"There’s a statue of Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros and it speaks to the love the Parisians have for Nadal, and that was enacted at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. It’s a Paris Games. Nadal is a Spaniard and he was featured like a hometown hero.
You walk into Roland Garros and there’s a beautiful silver statue of Nadal – because he is loved in that city.
Novak is not loved here. He can be admired for his achievements, but he’s not loved."
You can read the full article here:
https://sen.com.au/news/2025/01/28/fractious-australian-open-overshadowed-by-precious-prima-donnas
What do you guys think?
A version of Nadal that was not even a thousandth of what he was.Djokovic did borrow this from your Olympic hero I guess lol
This.Djokovic and his fans have to be the most insecure desperate heels in all of sports. Most fans of disliked athletes can admit that their guy is hated and that they like them for that but Djokovic fans are the only one that bend themselves into pretzels to blame the hate on anything else other than the fact that their man is and has always been a complete knob.
Typical Aussie media behavior. Most are still mad he didn't take the jab and he is their enemy. Of course most were fans of Fedal anyway but since the vaccine situation, the media there has gone very dark when it comes to him.
Bingo. The media in places like Australia and Canada are horrendous. They are establishment water carriers who despise anyone with any sort of autonomy who bucks the system. If you don't follow the crowd (the system) you're a black sheep who needs to be shunned.