Who is the least popular 100+ weeks #1 in Open Era- Novak Djokovic or pre stabbing Seles

[flutzingitaway]

Someone like Safina might be the least popular in the sense nobody even cared about her (although she was nowhere near as disliked as Djokovic or Seles, hardly anyone cared enough about her existence to truly dislike her). However she was also a fluke type #1 who barely spent anytime there. Same goes for Rios who could be a candidate for most disliked.

Of the players who spent 100+ weeks at #1 in the Open Era there are only 2 true candidates for most disliked- Djokovic of course, and pre stabbing Seles. Seles became a fan favorite after the stabbing, pretty much entirely due to the stabbing. Prior to that she was very poorly liked, both by her fellow players, and especialy by fans. Djokovic goes without saying, his own parents whine about it. So which would you pick between the 2 as the least popular 100+ weeks #1 in the Open Era.

PS- I had completely forgotten Lendl who is definitely a candidate for this as well. I added him as a 3rd option.

 

[flutzingitaway]

I am not going to cast my vote yet as I need to think on this one some.

 

[ScottleeSV]

I don't remember Seles being unliked. Then again, I only watched Wimbledon back in those days. There was a hope in the media she would get good on grass and give Steffi a game but it didn't happen.

Djokovic isn't "unliked". There's a difference between "unliked" and "not as popular as Federer or Nadal".

 

[flutzingitaway]

I don't remember Seles being unliked. Then again, I only watched Wimbledon back in those days. There was a hope in the media she would get good on grass and give Steffi a game but it didn't happen.

Djokovic isn't "unliked". There's a difference between "unliked" and "not as popular as Federer or Nadal".

Djokovic is not even as popular as Murray. Or Del Potro. He pretty much never plays a match against either of those the crowd roots for him to win. Heck I have not seen him play a match against Wawrinka the crowd cheers for him. And some of that could be being the favorite, yes, but crowds always root for Federer and often root for Nadal despite always being the favorite so.

I actually forgot Lendl though. I should have included him as the 3rd option in the poll.

 

[tennis_pro]

Djokovic isnt unliked, he's just meh which is actually worse. The media have nothing to write about. Imagine If he was universally hated, now that's a story. Djokovic just doesnt generate emotions

 

[flutzingitaway]

Djokovic isnt unliked, he's just meh which is actually worse. The media have nothing to write about. Imagine If he was universally hated, now that's a story. Djokovic just doesnt generate emotions

So he is basically like Safina.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Djokovic isnt unliked, he's just meh which is actually worse. The media have nothing to write about. Imagine If he was universally hated, now that's a story. Djokovic just doesnt generate emotions

 

[Nadal_Django]

Seems that if you're dominant player and you're coming from the Eastern Bloc that's death for your popularity and likeness factor.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Seems that if you're dominant player and you're coming from the Eastern Bloc that's death for your popularity and likeness factor.

Like Egypt?

 

[Nadal_Django]

Like Egypt?

?

 

[tonylg]

Seems that if you're dominant player and you're coming from the Eastern Bloc that's death for your popularity and likeness factor.

Safin was very well liked. Still is.

Lendl was only disliked in the USA, in fact he was always a bit of a fave in Australia.

Djokovic fans like to make out nationality is the issue, but it's playing style and personality - all *****.

 

[Phoenix1983]

?

 

[flutzingitaway]

Seems that if you're dominant player and you're coming from the Eastern Bloc that's death for your popularity and likeness factor.

I had not thought of it but looking at the names on my poll there probably is some truth to that. Navratilova was also not popular at all, especialy at home in America (even after becoming a U.S citizen) until she turned 29 or 30.

 

[Phoenix1983]

In answer to the OP, it has to be Novak Djokovic among male players.

Lendl was hated I guess, but he was also a bad ass who didn't care what people thought of him, which ironically gained him some admirers of his attitude.

No one likes Novak Djokovic other than his drooling fanboys.

Can't speak about overall though - don't know enough about how hated Seles was pre-stabbing. Care to elaborate on that?

 

[Ballmachine87]

When did this Djokovic is unliked narrative start? Until a few years ago Dijokovic was widely regarded as the most funny and likeabale of the top players. Then all of a sudden the narrative was pushed that Djokovic isn`t liked. It is really weird. Furthermore I don`t think this is true at all. This narrative only seems to be pushed among a certain circle of Tennis fans but it doesn`t hold water for the vast majority of people interested in tennis.

 

[flutzingitaway]

In answer to the OP, it has to be Novak Djokovic among male players.

Lendl was hated I guess, but he was also a bad ass who didn't care what people thought of him, which ironically gained him some admirers of his attitude.

No one likes Novak Djokovic other than his drooling fanboys.

Can't speak about overall though - don't know enough about how hated Seles was pre-stabbing. Care to elaborate on that?

Well at the 91 U.S Open for instance both the semi final vs Capriati and final vs Navratilova the crowds were insanely pro her opponent. They eventually became muted in the Navratilova match only since by the 2nd set Seles was destroying her. The Capriati semi was virtually like a soccer atmsophere and some fans even booed at the end when she won and they booed every close call that went against Capriati. She was also booed in her victory speech after beating Navratilova, especialy when she thanked Trump. Some of that was playing a 15 year old and 34 year old but even so.

In all 5 of her matches vs Graf in 91-93 the crowd was super pro Graf, and Graf up to that point was not even that popular a player. Even at Wimbledon where Seles was clearly the underdog playing Graf on grass. In fact I never saw her play a single match vs any of Navratilova, Graf, Capriati, Sabatini, or even Sanchez where it seemed the crowd were cheering for her, even before she became #1, like in 1990 when she was #3 almost the whole year. With the possible exception of just 1 match- the 89 French, the crowd support between her and Graf was atleast neutral (she was the huge underdog in that match and the newcomer at that point). That is pretty much the only time I saw her playing any of those the crowd was not firmly for her opponent.

It is pretty clear she was not a fan favorite. And her only friends on tour were Sabatini and maybe Capriati to a minor extent, so she was not a favorite of her fellow players either. Part of the controversy of only 1 person voting to freeze her #1 ranking after she got stabbed (personally I think it made no sense to freeze the ranking, but many others think differently and were very upset with that and how few votes she got) is a pretty clear indication of her popularity amongst her fellow players I think. This is mostly focusing on the fans though, and even compared to other #1s she was very unpopular with fans, amongst the least popular ever, until Parche.

 

[flutzingitaway]

Until a few years ago Dijokovic was widely regarded as the most funny and likeabale of the top players.

By whom? He certainly was never loved by fans the way Federer, Nadal, or even Murray are. So obviously you aren't referring to fans.

Do you mean by other players? I guess anything is possible but the only award ever awarded by fellow players votes has only gone to Federer or Nadal (usually Federer) in his time.

 

[tonylg]

If it was Bautista Agut sitting on 17 Slams it wouldve been the same thing.

He's just as boring, but nowhere near as unlikeable.

 

[ibbi]

My feeling is that Lendl and Djokovic are not disliked so much as other players are liked more. Seles was disliked. All that complaining people do about the shrieking in womens tennis these days. Imagine instead of the general complaining, it was all focused on one person, and I think you'd have an idea of what the issue was.

The other thing to consider is these were all massively dominant players, and not too many people in too many places cheer for the massively dominant player/team. Federer was nowhere near as popular during his 237 weeks atop the rankings, the major difference is that he didn't have other more popular legends hanging around stealing his spotlight in the prime years of his career. He had Agassi there briefly, and Andre was more popular than he was.

 

[Ballmachine87]

And you base this notion that Djokovic wasn`t/isn`t liked as much as Nadal, Federer and Murray by Tennis fans on what data? I just don`t see it.
Did you make a representative poll among Tennis fans outside of Spain, Switzerland and GB that shows that Djokovic isn`t liked? I know a ton of tennis fans and most certainly Djokovic isn`t unliked by any means. Also I visited each grand slam multiple times in between 2009 and 2015 and never once had I the impression that there was a widespread dislike towards Djokovic. If anything he was a spectators favorite for his impersonations.

 

[Red Rick]

Somehow I feel there's this strange thing going on with pundits/fans and players respecting Djokovic, but when a crowd gets going it is still always against him. Either it's because he's playing Fedal, a more loved player, or he's simply the big favorite and da people are rooting for the underdog.

 

[thrust]

Seems that if you're dominant player and you're coming from the Eastern Bloc that's death for your popularity and likeness factor.

Especially in Lendl's day due to the Cold War etc..

 

[Raiden]

flutzingitaway
Rookie

Rookie indeed.

What's all this rubbish claim that Murray is pôpular? Dude was once hated more than Djoko ever was. Even in his own cuntry, Murray was bashed and slammed by "red top" newspapers for years and years. The hate and abuse only decreased when he rebranded himself as a feminist.

 

[beard]

That guy was so p1ssed when Djokovic dominated in mid 2010s he was even rooting for the Nadal (now the Berrettini conqueror) to regain his old form. Sure sounds like meh, no emotions being involved there.

Yeah, he thought Nadal is half finished... Now he is mostly nice toward Novak compared to Nadal...

 

[BeatlesFan]

Lendl was only disliked in the USA

He was detested in Germany, France, Italy and most of Western Europe, as well as Canada and the former eastern block countries. The only places he wasn’t detested were Britain, Japan and Australia.

 

[flutzingitaway]

My feeling is that Lendl and Djokovic are not disliked so much as other players are liked more. Seles was disliked. All that complaining people do about the shrieking in womens tennis these days. Imagine instead of the general complaining, it was all focused on one person, and I think you'd have an idea of what the issue was.

The other thing to consider is these were all massively dominant players, and not too many people in too many places cheer for the massively dominant player/team. Federer was nowhere near as popular during his 237 weeks atop the rankings, the major difference is that he didn't have other more popular legends hanging around stealing his spotlight in the prime years of his career. He had Agassi there briefly, and Andre was more popular than he was.

I agree, and that is why I ultimately voted Seles.

And good point on Federer. He was decently popular when truly dominant but not as insanely popular as he became after his dominance ended for good in 2008. The only people I can think of who were insanely popular even while dominant were probably Borg and Evert.

 

[Ballmachine87]

No Lendl was Not detested in West Germany. He was a rival of Becker, that I
Is all. Beides that He was as respected as any Others player.

 

[flutzingitaway]

And you base this notion that Djokovic wasn`t/isn`t liked as much as Nadal, Federer and Murray by Tennis fans on what data? I just don`t see it.
Did you make a representative poll among Tennis fans outside of Spain, Switzerland and GB that shows that Djokovic isn`t liked? I know a ton of tennis fans and most certainly Djokovic isn`t unliked by any means. Also I visited each grand slam multiple times in between 2009 and 2015 and never once had I the impression that there was a widespread dislike towards Djokovic. If anything he was a spectators favorite for his impersonations.

I will put it to you in simple laymans terms. Have you ever seen Djokovic play Federer or Nadal, and the crowd was cheering for Djokovic to win? Do they even often cheer for him to win when he plays Del Potro, Wawrinka, or Murray? Just a simple yes or no please.

And the Fan Favorite award has gone to Federer the last 17 years as you can see here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATP_Awards#ATPTour.com_Fans'_Favorite So that already disproves any suggestion Djokovic was ever the most popular player which you seem to be saying he was. Granted that would not mean he is an unpopular #1 as this thread is about, even Nadal has never won it after all, but I am speaking of you implying he was the fans favorite at one point.

 

[Mainad]

What's all this rubbish claim that Murray is pôpular? Dude was once hated more than Djoko ever was. Even in his own cuntry, Murray was bashed and slammed by "red top" newspapers for years and years. The hate and abuse only decreased when he rebranded himself as feminist.

The only 'hate' came from daft English football fans who resented his joke that he would support anyone but England in the 2006 World Cup after he was mockingly asked in an interview by Henman whom would he now support after Scotland got knocked out of qualifying. They both laughed, most people laughed, some of the more deranged English fans have been hating him ever since (and probably make up the bulk of his haters even now).

He wasn't as popular with certain sections of the Wimbledon crowd at first (being seen as a dour Scot who swore a bit too much, not like dear old Tim) but his ability to win big soon won most people over and his brave attempt to win Wimbledon in 2012 followed by his Olympic heroics quickly cemented that.

 

[Mainad]

I voted for Lendl. He was never a crowd favourite (although always well respected) and I never took to him as a player and I don't think I was the only one. Not that he cared a jot of course.

 

[thrust]

No Lendl was Not detested in West Germany. He was a rival of Becker, that I
Is all. Beides that He was as respected as any Others player.

In the USA Lendl had to deal with the popular Americans, Connors and McEnroe so he was not very popular, especially when he began to beat them regularly. I rooted for Lendl because I felt sorry for him and disliked the personalities of Jimmy and John.

 

[clout]

I don't think any of them are "disliked" they just aren't as popular as their big rivals. People liked Connors, Mac, and Becker more than Lendl, similar to how people like Federer and Nadal more than Novak right now.

 

[King No1e]

Yes obviously Djokovic, the 2nd or 3rd most widely popular player in ATP history, is less liked than Lendl.

 

[flutzingitaway]

I don't think any of them are "disliked" they just aren't as popular as their big rivals. People liked Connors, Mac, and Becker more than Lendl, similar to how people like Federer and Nadal more than Novak right now.

You could be right. I should have worded it differently. Who is the "least popular" longtime #1. Clearly it has to be one of pre stabbing Seles, Lendl, or Djokovic. All of Serena, Graf, Evert, Navratilova (based on her 29+ popularity mainly, although she was mainly only ever hated in homophobic countries like the U.S), Agassi, Becker, Connors, McEnroe, Borg, Federer, Nadal, Henin, Clijsters, and anyone else who might have even over 50 weeks at #1 were more popular than those 3. I guess Sampras might be close to down with him, but I think he is still above all 3.

 

[flutzingitaway]

Yes obviously Djokovic, the 2nd or 3rd most widely popular player in ATP history, is less liked than Lendl.

You think he even might be 2nd? Over Nadal? Is that an April Fools joke. TTW is not representative of the real world just so you know.

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

Over Nadal? Is that an April Fools joke.

Yes obviously Djokovic, the 2nd or 3rd most widely popular player in ATP history, is less liked than Lendl.

it's indeed surprising that the nadal isn't an option in the poll... or maybe they finally stripped him of his #1 weeks?

 

[King No1e]

You think he even might be 2nd? Over Nadal? Is that an April Fools joke. TTW is not representative of the real world just so you know.

He's a bigger name than Rafa in most of Europe, especially Eastern Europe, and in Asia. Nadal is a bigger name in Spain, the Americas, and the English-speaking world.

 

[King No1e]

it's indeed surprising that the nadal isn't an option in the poll... or maybe they finally stripped him of his #1 weeks?

Cheatdal will never be GOAT. My favorite NaduII moment was when he started blubbering when he lost the 1st set to Wawrinka because his PATHETIC CHEATING tactics didn't work. So he faked an injury as always. What a CRYBABY HAHAHAHA.
Doped up to the gills with steroids and human growth hormone, and Loserdal still gets his ASS handed to him by nobodies like Rosol. WHAT A PEACE OF DOG SH1T HAHAHAHAHAHA

 

[Deleted member 771911]

I think it could be a three way tie. But the winner of which one seems most bothered by being disliked, I'd say it is Djokovic. Seles was oblivious and in her own teenage slam winning world and Lendl cared little for what people thought about him. Djokovic, though, seems rattled by it. That's not the question, I know, but I think it's too hard to say especially as they all came from quite different eras.

 

[Phoenix1983]

Yes obviously Djokovic, the 2nd or 3rd most widely popular player in ATP history, is less liked than Lendl.

He's nowhere near the 2nd or 3rd most popular player in ATP history. Federer, Nadal and Borg for a start are/were all way more popular in their eras.

 

[flutzingitaway]

I think it could be a three way tie. But the winner of which one seems most bothered by being disliked, I'd say it is Djokovic. Seles was oblivious and in her own teenage slam winning world and Lendl cared little for what people thought about him. Djokovic, though, seems rattled by it. That's not the question, I know, but I think it's too hard to say especially as they all came from quite different eras.

I agree with you there. Seles and Lendl did not really care they were disliked, especialy Lendl. Djokovic come to think of it more is probably not as disliked as those, but what makes him seem worse in a way is that he is so much more bothered by not being that popular, than Lendl and Seles are by being outright disliked.

 

[flutzingitaway]

He's nowhere near the 2nd or 3rd most popular player in ATP history. Federer, Nadal and Borg for a start are/were all way more popular in their eras.

I missed the history part. I thought he was only talking about current players which was bad enough. So he thinks Djokovic is more popular than Borg and Agassi!?!?!?!!? Just wow.

I honestly think Borg might still be the most popular player in history above Federer honestly. He could not easily go public places for his own safety and security, and was always in danger of being mobbed.

 

[King No1e]

I missed the history part. I thought he was only talking about current players which was bad enough. So he thinks Djokovic is more popular than Borg and Agassi!?!?!?!!? Just wow.

I honestly think Borg might still be the most popular player in history above Federer honestly. He could not easily go public places for his own safety and security, and was always in danger of being mobbed.

It's really splitting hairs between Nadal, Djokovic, Borg, and Agassi. All 3 are icons in their own right, but none of them quite compare to Federer, who stands alone.

 

[flutzingitaway]

It's really splitting hairs between Nadal, Djokovic, Borg, and Agassi. All 3 are icons in their own right, but none of them quite compare to Federer, who stands alone.

Your read is so incredibly wrong it isn't even funny. I will leave it at that.

 

[Third Serve]

Cheatdal will never be GOAT. My favorite NaduII moment was when he started blubbering when he lost the 1st set to Wawrinka because his PATHETIC CHEATING tactics didn't work. So he faked an injury as always. What a CRYBABY HAHAHAHA.
Doped up to the gills with steroids and human growth hormone, and Loserdal still gets his ASS handed to him by nobodies like Rosol. WHAT A PEACE OF DOG SH1T HAHAHAHAHAHA

Well hello there sunseeker