Roger Federer’s Candid Thoughts on Novak Djokovic: A Look Behind the Rivalry

Federer spoke about Novak Djokovic (Reuters)

The world of tennis has witnessed one of the most epic rivalries in the history of sports: Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. However, in the midst of this romance with the Swiss and the Spanish, a third player emerged who changed the game forever: Novak Djokovic.

A figure who knew how to break the hegemony of the two iconic tennis players and who grew within the circuit until he achieved glory. In this context, the Swiss gave his opinion about him in his documentary “Federer: the last twelve days”, which will be released on June 20 on digital platforms. However, The Telegraph revealed some of his statements.

“I faced him for the first time in Monaco 2006, where I walked off the pitch and thought: ‘Yes, he’s good,’” considered His Majesty. Although there was some expectation surrounding Djokovic, Federer admitted that he was not totally convinced at the time. “I think I didn’t give him the respect he deserved because of his technical failures. I felt that he had an extreme forehand grip, although his backhand was not as fluid as it is today. Then he grandly ignored those things and became a monstrous, incredible player,” he added.

Federer, who faced Djokovic 50 times (27 wins for the Serbian against 23 for the Swiss) throughout their careers, spoke about the initial rejection that Nole received from fans. “I guess mine and Rafa’s fans considered them a spoilsport. There was a lot of love there, so when it showed up probably a lot of people thought: ‘Look, we don’t need a third party. We are happy with Roger and Rafa,’” he expressed.

The Serbian recently withdrew from Roland Garros due to an injury to his right knee (AP)

The Swiss also acknowledged that some of his own fans didn’t like Djokovic because they thought he made it easier for him. “Then Novak appeared with his strong personality and his amazing desire to win at any cost,” said the 42-year-old former tennis player.

However, he also reflected on the evolution of the current world number 3 as a person. “It’s been a little misunderstood. I look back and see the man he has become. If I get the hang of him, who is he? What are his values? “I know he cares a lot about his family,” Federer concluded.

These leaked revelations from Federer became known after what was his speech at the Dartmouth University graduation ceremony, where the importance of hard work, personal improvement and the value of education. “I had to work really hard to make it look easy. “I spent years complaining, cursing and throwing my racket before I learned to stay calm,” he admitted.

Novak Djokovic, for his part, continues to recover from a right knee injury he suffered during his participation at Roland Garros. The Serbian made a quick decision and underwent surgery with the aim of being fit to compete for a medal at the Paris Olympic Games, where he will make his debut on July 27: “I am going to do everything possible to be healthy and fit.” way to get back on the field as soon as possible,” he acknowledged in one of his last posts on his official accounts.

2024-06-12 11:08:41
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