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Missing His Edgy Rivalry With Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic Finds an Alternate Way to Rekindle Swiss vs. Serbian Rivalry at UEFA Champions League

Published 10/06/2023, 1:56 AM EDT

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Novak Djokovic, a legendary name in the world of tennis, has always been more than a one-sport athlete. While his rivalry with Roger Federer has maintained a constant intrigue in the minds of the fans, Djokovic’s passion for appearing in different sports has kept him a cut above the others. Although, the current numbers have taken Novak higher enough than the former Swiss player, the rivalry among the stars and their fans still doesn’t seem to meet an end.

The rivalry book among the two tennis legends has numerous chapters of both on and off-court stories. Recently, Novak Djokovic made a surprise presence at the UEFA Champions League, which was reckoned by the fans as another event of the Serb-Swiss rivalry.

Novak Djokovic at the UEFA Champions League

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The rivalry between Novak Djokovic and former tennis player Roger Federer has prevailed since long. Be it on the courts where fans always supported their own sides or the off-court events that somehow pointed towards the rivalry, the two big names have always been a catch for the fans. Recently, the Serbian tennis legend’s presence at the UEFA Champions League surprised the fans and reignited the rivalry discussions again.

When Djokovic stepped into the stadium to support his beloved Red Star Belgrade, his home club was about to face Young Boys of Switzerland, a famous club from the home of Roger Federer. It was more than just a celebrity appearance. Fans saw it as a collaboration of two sports as well as a tennis legend standing up to support a team that was about to face his on-court rival’s home team. The incident took fans from both the tennis and the football worlds by surprise and the crowd presented their joy by cheering the Serb’s name.

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Although the presence was no doubt a surprise for the fans and an honor for the Red Star Belgrade’s lineup, instances of the Serbian tennis legend’s appearances in sports other than his own are nothing new, as his interest has no boundaries.

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Djokovic’s interest in multiple sports

This isn’t the first time Novak Djokovic has made a special appearance in other sports. In the past, he surprised the fans with his dribbling skills, as was spotted playing basketball with KK Crvena Zvezda, which is also a part of the Red Star multi-sports club. The 24 Grand Slam title winner’s approach towards sports is undoubtedly a remarkable one and brings new surprises for the fans.

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As Djokovic’s journey as a legendary tennis player continues, the rivalry between him and his all-time on-court rival Roger Federer does not seem to end even after the latter’s retirement from professional tennis. With the on-court battles being discontinued now, the off-court rivalry between the legends does not seem to rest yet.

WATCH THIS STORY: With Rafael Nadal Intent On Making A 2024 Comeback, Serena Williams’ Former Coach Asks A Pertinent Question As The Spaniard Enters The Twilight Phase

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Written by:

Akshay Kapoor

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Akshay Kapoor is a tennis writer at Essentially Sports. With a commendable 1.5 years of experience under his belt, this maestro of words spent half of that time honing his craft in the niche world of tennis news writing.
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Edited by:

Mitali Dey