By Flinster Austin
Published on 2024-01-20 09:40:42
Novak Djokovic, the Serbian world number one, is on a quest for a historic 25th Grand Slam in Melbourne, where he has already triumphed ten times. His storied rivalry with Roger Federer is well-known, and Djokovic has opened up about how he riled Federer when he first broke onto the scene as a confident and ambitious young player. “I know certainly Federer didn’t like the way I was behaving at the beginning,” Djokovic said. “I think it didn’t sit with him well. I don’t know about the others.” Despite the initial tension with Federer, Djokovic believed in his abilities and was determined to become the best player in the world, which only fueled his passion for the game.
At 33 years old, Djokovic is already the most decorated player in the men’s game, with 18 Grand Slam titles under his belt. He has two more major titles than the injured Rafael Nadal and four more than the retired Federer, his fellow members of the so-called “Big Three”. Furthermore, Djokovic is aiming for an 11th Australian Open title in Melbourne to surpass Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam singles crowns.
Reflecting on his early career, Djokovic explained that he faced criticism for his confident and assertive attitude. “I guess I wasn’t the favourite type of guy to some of the top guys because I was not afraid to say that I want to be the best player in the world,” he said. However, he emphasized that despite his confidence, he always maintained respect for his opponents. “Respect is something that I was taught that needs to be present regardless of what is happening,” he added.
Djokovic also shared that unfair criticism only served to fuel his determination to succeed. “If the criticism came with no particular reason I think, then I would just keep going in the kind of direction that I chose, and that’s it,” he said. “I knew and I know today that you can’t have everyone liking you, who you are, how you play, how you behave, what you talk about. It’s normal. We’re all different. We all have different preferences.”
As Djokovic continues his pursuit of tennis greatness, he remains focused on his goal and unswayed by the opinions of others. With his impressive track record and relentless drive, it’s clear that Djokovic’s ambition and determination have propelled him to the top of the tennis world.
