In the past fortnight, Novak Djokovic has been at the center of several controversies at the 2023 Australian Open. These, include allegations of faking a hamstring injury, receiving illegal messages, disobeying an umpire, and his father sympathizing with Vladimir Putin supporters. This is not the first time Djokovic has been at the center of such controversies—some might even say that it is a norm for the Serbian tennis player.

However, when compared to his fellow tennis players Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, Djokovic’s journey to the top has been much more challenging. While Nadal and Federer have enjoyed the support of their respective countries, Djokovic has had to pave his path to success.

Novak Djokovic and his struggles to the legendary stardom

It all started when Djokovic was a teenager and walked into the office of the Adelaide International tournament directors, Mark Woodforde and Peter Johnston, asking for a main draw wildcard. While Djokovic’s prediction did eventually come true, it was not an easy journey. Djokovic’s long-time agent, Edoardo Artaldi, revealed intricate details in a rare interview seven years ago. According to The Age,  he mentioned, “We have to be honest, and Nole is very realistic in this point: he comes from a poor country, from Serbia.”

Artaldi further explained that Nole couldn’t get support from a company in his country. He shared, ” Roger’s the greatest player ever, but if you see he has Credit Suisse, Lindt, Jura – all Swiss companies. Rafa is connected with many Spanish companies. For [Djokovic], he didn’t have a country behind him.”

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Furthermore, Serbia’s image worldwide was not, and still is not, great. The wars and conflicts made it even harder for Djokovic to gain support. This highlights the inherent privilege enjoyed by Nadal and Federer, who have had the support of their countries and companies. Djokovic, on the other hand, has had to work harder and overcome more obstacles to achieve the same level of success.

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Djokovic’s journey serves as a reminder that success is not always a straightforward path. Many factors, including socio-economic background and country of origin, can play a role in an individual’s journey to the top.

Novak’s former coach urges fans to watch the Serb play while they still can

Even though Djokovic has played an instrumental role in raising the level of competition in the sport, he will not be playing it forever. Like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal before him, Djokovic will eventually step away from the sport. Becker, a former coach of Nole, shared an intricate request for fans. He wants fans to not regret missing the chance to see one of the greatest players in action.

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Becker also noted that he has observed a few changes in Djokovic’s stamina. The former world number one has given several reality checks since his release from jail. These include the possibility of Rafael Nadal’s retirement due to injury. Fans are wondering which player, Nadal or Djokovic, will end up with more Grand Slam titles.