Why is Djokovic not as popular as Nadal? Federer...

Backspin1183

Backspin1183

Talk Tennis Guru
...seems to be the most popular tennis player in the world. Followed by Nadal. They're known even by people who don't watch tennis.

Fed's Facebook has 13.4 million fans

Nadal's FB page has 12.1 million fans

Djokovic Facebook page has 3.4 million fans

Why not much love for the hardworking Serb? He tries so hard to be liked. He imitates other tennis players, wears a Afro wig and dances on court. So why isn't he popular like Nadal or Federer?
 
This has been disscussed zillion times on this forum. He isnt chrarismatic player (you either have that or not )this the main reason. He wont be superstar even he won 10 slams.
 
Nadal and Federer have been at the top and in the spotlight much longer than Djokovic. Djokovic has only risen to the top in the past couple years while Federer and Nadal have been in it for almost a decade.

Also, Federer and Nadal may just be the two most idolized tennis players ever, in history. Their rivalry has boosted both of their popularities to an insane level. It's hard for anyone to compete with that.
 
Djokovic is a pretty popular tennis player as well. Papertank pretty much nailed why he is not as popular as Federer and Nadal.

Also, he comes across as someone who is desperate for attention and when he gets cheered against he takes it so damn personally.
 
Well, I mean, Federer is just a classy, extremely talented guy who is also on a lot of advertisements.

I believe Nadal was a heartthrob to a lot of people and his specific play style with all that spin is notable.

Djokovic? Can't really think of anything that pops out other than he jokes from time to time. He does have something of an attitude issue when actually on the court. Loved him with Sharapova in "New Balls Please" :P
 
Sid_Vicious said:
Djokovic is a pretty popular tennis player as well. Papertank pretty much nailed why he is not as popular as Federer and Nadal.

Also, he comes across as someone who is desperate for attention and when he gets cheered against he takes it so damn personally.
Click to expand...

this.....attention is grabbed through greatness......it should not be sought or begged......
 
Federer and Nadal are two of the most popular tennis players ever, given their history and rivalry. Any other player would fall short of their popularity. Why would Djokovic be any different? Name any other ATP player currently that is as popular as Fed and Rafa.....You can't. Murray isn't as popular as Fedal either. Neither is Ferrer, or Del Potro...or anyone else. Why didn't you call them out, OP?

After Fedal, Djokovic is one of the most popular players currently on the tour.
 
he is as popular as is possible considering he has to live in the wake of the other 2 superstars. if 80% of the tennis fans are spoken for, that leaves the rest of the field picking up monfils scraps.
 
If he's still playing by the time Roger and Rafa retire, I think his popularity will grow even more. Fact is, Rafa and Roger became fan favorite almost 10 years ago and are both regarded as GOAT candidates, so it's only natural that they're popularity is greater. They also have been winning most majors in the last 10 years, Novak has only started to win majors, so it will take time.
 
Fed and Nadal have been in tennis circuit and started wining slams almost 10 years back and on regular basis.

When did Djoko even started Winning regularly.... just 2 years back(since 2011). Give him time. Once Fed retires, his time will come!
 
mistik said:
This has been disscussed zillion times on this forum. He isnt chrarismatic player (you either have that or not )this the main reason. He wont be superstar even he won 10 slams.
Click to expand...

Is Baghdatis more chrarismatic player than Djokovic? If yes, why he is not more popular than Novak?

dr. godmode said:
People don't like when people try so hard to be liked
Click to expand...

Does Wawrinka tries very hard to be liked? If not, why he is not more popular than Djokovic?

illusions30 said:
Boring game, bad and annoying personality, annoying family.
Click to expand...

Does Del Potro has boring game, bad and annoying personality, annoying family? If not, why he is not more popular than Djokovic?
 
5555 said:
Is Baghdatis more chrarismatic player than Djokovic? If yes, why he is not more popular than Novak?



Does Wawrinka tries very hard to be liked? If not, why he is not more popular than Djokovic?



Does Del Potro has boring game, bad and annoying personality, annoying family? If not, why he is not more popular than Djokovic?
Click to expand...

Oversimplifying as usual. Also, is it a fact that del potro has a biding game?
 
Maybe if Djokovic stopped making so many unforced errors,
he would be more popular.
How can he expect to be popular at all when he wins the title
of King of Unforced Errors every year?
 
Chico, why the troll OP? Seriously.

You hear the gamut if ridiculousness when you ask such a troll-baity question. They'll bust out their (often funny and awesome) rage or low-moment gifs and try and pretend that this somehow represents a person's personality or likability. It's asinine. Haters and fanboys are always going to hate.

In my opinion, Djokovic is the full package--an excellent sports star. So is Federer, Nadal, and Murray although the latter two slightly less relatable in my opinion maybe due to their inherent quirkiness/aloofness.

All of these guys seem like good guys, who care about their fans, their community, and their sport. They give back with their time, their money, and their foundations. Djokovic has a very likable personality, and is extremely popular in Serbia (obviously, right?). Just like Federer, Nadal, and Murray are extremely popular in Switzerland, Spain, and Great Britain respectively. Djoker's Twitter feed is great. He really engages, shares some great pics and articles and stories. I encourage everyone reading this, especially those who think Djokovic is a "bad attitude" to subscribe to his Twitter and get to know him a little bit via that outlet. Or Facebook, or whatever. I bet you change your mind.

So let's look at some numbers. You guys know how I like numbers! The facts seem to suggest they are similarly popular over the course of the last 12 months:

GjU0bXD.jpg


What else you find, when you drill into numbers like this, is that the US is just pathetically far behind in tennis popularity. It's sad, really ...
 
Last edited:
Backspin1183 said:
...seems to be the most popular tennis player in the world. Followed by Nadal. They're known even by people who don't watch tennis.

Fed's Facebook has 13.4 million fans

Nadal's FB page has 12.1 million fans

Djokovic Facebook page has 3.4 million fans

Why not much love for the hardworking Serb? He tries so hard to be liked. He imitates other tennis players, wears a Afro wig and dances on court. So why isn't he popular like Nadal or Federer?
Click to expand...

I think it has nothing to do with his personality. If all three Fed, Nadal and Djoker are of different eras, I would assume they would garner same popularity and money. Fed went first and Nadal was in Fed's shadow for most of his career. Now Djoker is being over-shadowed by both Fed and Nadal.
I think both Nadal and Djoker are equally likable.

And in this forum, djoker is least popular because of his stupid compatriots and fans.
 
chandu612 said:
I think it has nothing to do with his personality. If all three Fed, Nadal and Djoker are of different eras, I would assume they would garner same popularity and money. Fed went first and Nadal was in Fed's shadow for most of his career. Now Djoker is being over-shadowed by both Fed and Nadal.
I think both Nadal and Djoker are equally likable.

And in this forum, djoker is least popular because of his stupid compatriots and fans.
Click to expand...

I wasn't talking about Djokovic's popularity on this forum. What the fans on this forum think don't matter much. But outside of it in the real world, Djokovic has had great success since 2011.

Until Nadal's incredible season this year, Djokovic's been the most successful player since 2011. He tries so hard to be liked and admired like Federer and Nadal but he's treated like a poor man's champion by most tennis fans.

Now I get why papa Djokovic isn't so fond of Federer and Nadal.
 
powerangle said:
Federer and Nadal are two of the most popular tennis players ever, given their history and rivalry. Any other player would fall short of their popularity. Why would Djokovic be any different? Name any other ATP player currently that is as popular as Fed and Rafa.....You can't. Murray isn't as popular as Fedal either. Neither is Ferrer, or Del Potro...or anyone else. Why didn't you call them out, OP?

After Fedal, Djokovic is one of the most popular players currently on the tour.
Click to expand...
roddick, but he recently retired.
 
Given his achievements, Djokovic is not that popular.
He doesn't have a well-defined character.

Federer is the cool, calm and collected gentleman without convictions who doesn't make more effort than he needs to.

Nadal is lost in his little compulsive superstitions, the epic fighter who gives 100% on every point and wipes his bum before each serve.

Djokovic, well he wants to win tennis matches and tries to be liked.
 
Fedal are the equivalent of John Cena. They are the poster boys of tennis and are adored by little uneducated children.
 
Seriously though, it's because he's from Serbia.

Everybody hates Serbia. Why not hate Nadal?

They should. He's Serbia in human form.
 
TheF1Bob said:
Fedal are the equivalent of John Cena. They are the poster boys of tennis and are adored by little uneducated children.
Click to expand...

Lol, just no. Yeah, you can compare Nadal with Cena but Federer is like the Undertaker. He is admired by everyone, not just little kids.
 
It's very simple, and I don't know why we have to recycle the topic.

Fedal garnered the lion share of fans during the long period of their rivalry. That left few fans for others. Folks normally stick with the guy they picked, and don't just jump to whoever is currently winning.
 
He tries to hard, most of the time it's not even funny. It's difficult to idolize someone who act like that goofy kid in class who's always looking for attention. I think that if Nadal and Federer acted like that, they would have less followers as well. Also Federer and Nadal have a special appearance. Federer had the long wavy hair, the elegance and the beautiful strokes. Nadal had the pirate outfit, the long barbarian hair and the muscular, agressive look of a fighter.

Djokovic doesn't look very special, looks a bit like an average guy you'd see walking down the street. Maybe he needs to grow his hair and do something Agassi/Borg-like.
 
merwy said:
He tries to hard, most of the time it's not even funny. It's difficult to idolize someone who act like that goofy kid in class who's always looking for attention. I think that if Nadal and Federer acted like that, they would have less followers as well. Also Federer and Nadal have a special appearance. Federer had the long wavy hair, the elegance and the beautiful strokes. Nadal had the pirate outfit, the long barbarian hair and the muscular, agressive look of a fighter.

Djokovic doesn't look very special, looks a bit like an average guy you'd see walking down the street. Maybe he needs to grow his hair and do something Agassi/Borg-like.
Click to expand...

I think the boat has sailed for current tennis fans. He's got to hope to pick up fans after Fed retires. Of course, he'll have to compete with Murray. There was an article after the USOpen that indicated Murray was more well known in the states, which I attribute to the Olympics as well as massive media coverage of him stooping the draught for the English at Wimbledon.
 
Partly because he came after them. As far as popularity and being loved, Federer far surpassed anyone who came before him and dominated the game at a level never before witnessed. To some degree, I believe Rafa benefited from that. People wanted to see Federer challenged by someone and Rafa was the guy to meet that challenge when no one else could. Throw in that he is a nice, humble guy and you get someone who not only challenged Fed on the court, but also developed a huge following of his own...and then we got roughly four great years of rivalry (2006-09) between them where they were clearly the best, and Rafa was trying to overtake Fed. It could not have been scripted any better.

Djokovic came right after the two most popular players in tennis history were winding down their rivalry , but those two are still highly relevant. There are only so many fans left after you take the Fed and Rafa fans out. Nobody who is a big fan of one of those two is going to suddenly like Djokovic better, IMO.

I think Djokovic has developed a pretty good following and is generally liked by most fans. It is just a tall order to get to Fed/Rafa level.
 
bullfan said:
There was an article after the USOpen that indicated Murray was more well known in the states, which I attribute to the Olympics as well as massive media coverage of him stooping the drought for the English at Wimbledon.
Click to expand...

Obviously... :roll:
 
Overdrive said:
Obviously... :roll:
Click to expand...

Don't get what you're pointing out other than my atrocious spelling!

It was one pollsters review. Yet, it was also announced by espn that Nadal commands top viewership, like Fed and Serena at USOpen. Something espn didn't attribute to any but those 3. It was also put forth that more Rafa sports gear was purchased at the USOpen than for any other player.

Americans like to poll, what can I say!
 
Last edited:
bullfan said:
Don't get what you're pointing out other than my atrocious spelling!

It was one pollsters review. Yet, it was also announced by espn that Nadal commands top viewership, like Fed and Serena at USOpen. Something espn didn't attribute to any but those 3. It was also put forth that more Rafa sports gear was purchased at the USOpen than for any other player.
Click to expand...

I was kidding bullfan.

Relax. :)

I'm told TMF that Rafael Nadal is gaining more fans every time he bites his teeth on a newly acquired trophy.. Since he's more of a Federer fan, he doesn't see my point. I don't think he's a groupie though..
 
Overdrive said:
I was kidding bullfan.

Relax. :)

I'm told TMF that Rafael Nadal is gaining more fans every time he bites his teeth on a newly acquired trophy.. Since he's more of a Federer fan, he doesn't see my point. I don't think he's a groupie though..
Click to expand...

I'm chill, I was just confused by your post. Btw, Novak ranked at the bottom of the 4 in the poll Murray won. It sounded like they asked folks on the street, who didn't know about tennis, and folks were scratching their brain cells!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Achilles82
Why isn't Djokovic as popular as Nadal or Federer?
2
Replies
55
Views
10K
10is
10is
D
Why is nadal so much more popular than Djokovic?
3 4 5
Replies
247
Views
29K
dr325i
dr325i
FeVer
Why is Federer so much more popular than Nadal?
6 7 8
Replies
367
Views
32K
Towser83
Towser83
RF20Lennon
Interesting article on the popularity of Djokovic
2 3 4
Replies
160
Views
6K
Elessar
Elessar
Backspin1183
Who else thinks the ATP Facebook page is over posting about Federer and Nadal?
Replies
26
Views
2K
Nishikorigoat
N
Back
Top