Novak Djokovic’s coach Goran Ivanisevic believes that his charge won’t be loved and adored like the fans love Roger Federer. He believes that the support from Djokovic is always less in comparison to Federer but that motivates the Serb to do better and gives him that push.
The World No. 1 has not enjoyed the kind of support that Federer receives. He has been up against the crowd many times especially when he plays the Swiss legend.
Djokovic after winning his game against Denis Kudla at Wimbledon admitted that he is mostly up against a hostile crowd. Recently Goran Ivanisevic in an interview with Rick Broadbent of The Times shared that the people who hate the Serb right now will surely miss him once he hangs his boots.
Ivanisevic admitted that Federer will remain as the most loved tennis star and there are no two ways about it. But he also believes that the Swiss get so much love only because he entered the scene earlier than Djokovic. He also added how the Serb enjoys the hostile crowd and uses that energy to drive himself forward.
“I think they are going to miss him [when he eventually retires],” Ivanisevic said. “He is never going to have the love of Roger, but I don’t think he cares. Sometimes he needs people against him to feel a little push.
“He has fans, people love him, but they support Federer more because he came first,” the former Wimbledon winner added. “But you have to appreciate what he does. The guy has won everything. The guy is fighting. They will miss him. They will say, ‘F***, we would like Djokovic to come back.”
The Croatian pointed out how Djokovic’s negatives are always highlighted and he is never given credit for his good deeds. He also compared him to the fictional character called Robin Hood.
“Sometimes people only pick out the bad things he does,” Ivanisevic adds. “They don’t see the good he does in helping others. He is the person who is not afraid to speak out, the only tennis player who stands up for the other players. He is the Robin Hood of tennis.”
The Serb recently swept Marton Fucsovics 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in the quarterfinals of the Wimbledon. He will play Canadian tennis star Denis Shapolvalov in the semifinals.
