PARIS – The tide is turning in tennis legend Novak Djokovic’s favour in gaining the respect he deserves from followers of the sport, but he may have to wait for years post-retirement to be fully appreciated, says Daniil Medvedev.
World number two Medvedev was speaking after Djokovic had come back from a set down to beat him 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the final in Paris for a record-breaking 37th Masters 1000 title yesterday.
This came a day after the 34-year-old Serbian won his semi-final to assure himself of another milestone – as a season-ending world number one for the seventh time.
In doing so he ended Medvedev’s slim hopes of toppling him, two months after the Russian dashed Djokovic’s dreams of a Grand Slam sweep in the US Open final.
Djokovic has spoken of the love he felt from the US Open crowd that day which has not always been the case elsewhere – in the Wimbledon final this year he was riled on several occasions by spectators siding with opponent Matteo Berrettini.
For many years, too, he has been seen as the odd one out of the three great rivals who have won 20 Grand Slams apiece.
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are generally loved but the intense, deep-thinking Serbian provokes lukewarm sentiments.
Medvedev, though, believes the man he calls “his friend” will eventually get the recognition he deserves for his achievements.
“I have the feeling that people start more and more to respect what he has done in tennis,” said Medvedev.
“Because, well, he continues to beat the records.
“I feel like unless they are real haters, which are not real fans, people start to see what he’s done and to see that he's able to do more.” – AFP, November 8, 2021
