Tennis: Roger Federer’s truth is hard for Novak Djokovic to swallow

Novak Djokovic can win more grand slams than Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, but he will never be loved like them.

The Serbian tennis star has won 17 major titles and is hunting down Nadal (19) and the Fed Express (20). Djokovic has made no secret of his desire to surpass Federer as the all-time Grand Slam leader in men’s tennis, and also wants to surpass his record of most weeks as world No. 1 (310 weeks).

Djokovic’s reputation has taken a hit in 2020. From ignoring social distancing regulations during his ill-fated Adria Tour to starting a Separatist players’ association or being disqualified for hitting a line at the US Open, the 33-year-old only hurt himself.

It’s not like he’s Mr. Popularity to begin with either. That was evident when he was ruthlessly booed on center court during last year’s Wimbledon final against Federer, and again during this summer’s Australian Open decider.

Australian legend Lleyton Hewitt said it must be “frustrating” for Djokovic to accept the fact that, no matter how many wins he wins, he will never have the same widespread appeal as his two biggest rivals.

“Obviously now he’s in an era where those two guys are so beloved around the world, and it’s really hard for Novak to share that love with so many of the other viewers of the sport,” Hewitt told news.com.au.

“That is the difficult thing. Roger and Rafa have been, certainly in my generation, the two great ambassadors that you could have expected for our sport.”

“So Novak coming in, I’m sure it’s frustrating for him because he feels like he’s the best player sometimes.

“His record against those two guys, especially in the big tournaments, what he has been able to do in the slams (is brilliant) … but that support from the public I don’t think will ever change for Roger and Rafa.”

Djokovic surely must know that he has no chance of reaching the same heights as Federer and Nadal when it comes to global admiration, especially after the year he’s had. But Hewitt said it’s important not to fall into the trap of trying to copy those two.

“Novak is going to become one of the greats and physically he will have a much better chance of outperforming the other two in grand slams in the next five years,” Hewitt said.

“He has to be himself. There is no point trying to copy other people or try to alienate Roger and Rafa fans because that is not going to happen.

“He has to be himself, be original. We all know what a great tennis player he is.”

If anyone knows a thing or two about redemption, it’s Hewitt. The upside down hat icon was a cheeky young man who scrubbed some people the wrong way, as critics interpreted his competitiveness as a lack of humility.

But over time he became an athlete that his country could be proud of. A fighter who never gave up, Hewitt became a symbol of everything Australians love in their athletes.

That is why the two-time Grand Slam champion has been selected as one of the five candidates on the ballot for the promotion of the 2021 International Tennis Hall of Fame, along with: Juan Carlos Ferrero, Lisa Raymond, Jonas Bjorkman and Sergi Bruguera.

Hewitt is the first Australian to be nominated since the great wheelchair designer David Hall was inducted in 2015, and he said it is flattering to be considered for such a prestigious honor.

“It would be a dream come true to be inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame,” Hewitt told news.com.au. “It’s something that you don’t really think about as a junior player, that you could possibly be there one day.

“The real Newport Hall of Fame in Rhode Island has always been a special place for me.

“It’s something you don’t really think about too much, but obviously it’s a great honor to be nominated.”

Starting next month, fans can vote on Hall of Fame nominees at vote.tennisfame.com.