As Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic this week tries to become the first man to win his sport’s “Grand Slam” in 52 years, he deserves far more support and appreciation than fans usually afford him.
Rarely has anyone arguably the greatest of all-time in his sport been so little a fan favorite — and with so little reason for attracting ambivalence or antipathy. A man of winsome wit, a gracious competitor, and a tremendously generous philanthropist, Djokovic should inspire admiration and popularity. Instead, almost every match at almost every venue features more fans cheering for his opponents than for him.
Djokovic, of course, suffers from having two such deservedly popular rivals for the Greatest Of All Time title as Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, both of whom also are famously sportsmanlike and philanthropic while also providing better optics than Djokovic does. Federer moves so fluidly that he sometimes appears to float, while Nadal plays with such churning power and speed as to virtually define “excitement.” Both, too, flash megawatt smiles, and both seem somehow more at ease with themselves than Djokovic does.
Djokovic exudes stupendous athletic efficiency rather than gracefulness or excitement. Somehow his facial expressions more often seem taut and pursed than open and approachable. And as the last of the trio to join the GOAT discussion, Djokovic had to contend with exuberant fan bases already established for the other two, with him seeming an interloper.
None of these drawbacks are really the Serb’s fault. Some people seem born with a natural and perhaps unearned grace with which others aren’t blessed. Throw in a few (albeit exceedingly rare) episodes of very human peevishness from Djokovic, and his role becomes set: not really as the black hat, not hated, but just not beloved.
This lack of adoration comes despite pop culture’s tendency to automatically revere success. Yet, if Djokovic secures the Grand Slam while notching his 21st major singles title to break the three-way tie with Nadal and Federer for the most all-time, there can be no remaining doubt that his successes will have outstripped, albeit narrowly, those of his two friendly competitors.
Already, he alone has held all four major titles at the same time (albeit not in the same calendar year, as this Slam would be). Already, he alone has won all four majors at least twice. Already, he enjoys a winning record head-to-head against the other two. Already, he prevailed in the tightest, longest matches against the other two and beat them in finals in their preferred venues (Wimbledon for Federer, Roland Garros for Nadal) while never losing to them in the finals at his preferred Australian Open. And Djokovic already has spent far more weeks (337) ranked No. 1 in the world than either Federer (310) or Nadal (209).
Finally, Federer spent his first several years in the majors without much competition from all-time greats (giving him a large head start in winning finals over the good-but-not superstar likes of Marat Safin, Lleyton Hewitt, and Fernando Gonzalez), whereas Djokovic joined Nadal in far more often needing to get past the brutal competition from each other and Andy Murray to win their titles.
In sum, a win this week would definitively, at least for now, make Djokovic the greatest of all time. And all as his foundation has built 43 schools and supported nearly 21,000 children, while he has repeatedly rushed aid to places stricken by natural disasters. In 2012, he was named the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year.
Novak Djokovic is a very good man and a phenomenal champion. Come on, people, give him some love!
