Novak Djokovic was told he was doing something that was not right by a former top 10 WTA player.
Djokovic is often regarded as the greatest tennis player of all time, having won more Grand Slam singles titles than any other player in the Open Era.
The Serbian is still competing at 38 years old, with Djokovic currently preparing for the Australian Open, where he will make his 21st appearance.
While he is respected for his career achievements, Djokovic has not always been as popular as his greatest rivals Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
What Daria Kasatkina said was not right about Novak Djokovic compared to Rafael Nadal
While it is hard to pinpoint one reason why Djokovic has not been as popular as Nadal and Federer, he received a lot of criticism in particular in 2022, after he was deported from Australia due to his Covid-19 vaccination status.
Following this situation unfolding, WTA player Daria Kasatkina, who has been ranked as high as world number eight, made some insightful comments about Djokovic.
Kasatkina is not afraid to speak her mind, and suggested to Eurosport Russia in 2022 that she thought Djokovic was trying too hard to be liked.
She also drew comparisons with Nadal, who she claimed was more authentic compared to Djokovic.
“There is such a person – Djokovic,” Kasatkina said at the time. “We all see how he wants people to love him. How he tries to do everything for this, but it does not work. Because in the end it still feels like something is not right.”
Kasatkina added, “Rafa is real, he doesn’t smash rackets because he just hasn’t done it since childhood. He splashes out emotions in a different way – the same ‘vamos’ of his is adored by many. Not many people like it when people try to seem like they are not. The pretence is visible.”
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Why Novak Djokovic said he wasn’t as loved as Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer
While this would not have been nice to hear for Djokovic, he has expressed his awareness of not being as popular as Nadal and Federer.
In an interview with 20 minutes earlier this year, Djokovic claimed that he was not as loved because he ‘wasn’t supposed to be there’.
“I was never as loved as Federer and Nadal because I wasn’t supposed to be there,” said Djokovic. “I was the little guy, the third guy who came along and said, ‘I’m going to be number one.’ Many people didn’t like that.”
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Djokovic added, “Just because someone is my biggest rival doesn’t mean I wish them harm, hate them, or want to do anything else on the court to defeat them. We fought for the win, and the better player won.
“I’ve always respected both him and Federer; I’ve never said a single bad word about them and never will. I looked up to them and still do. But I’ve always gotten along better with Nadal.”
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