Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev are two of the most prominent players on the tour. Apart from being Grand Slam champions, the two are also neck-to-neck competitors for the top spot in the rankings. However, despite all the achievements with their names, the two get pushed down by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal when it comes to love from fans.

Apart from being two of the greatest players of all time, Nadal and Federer are also the most loved players. While love acts as a motivating factor for the Spanish and the Swiss grace, that doesn’t seem to be the case with Djokovic and Medvedev. Recently, John McEnroe opened up about the undeserved hatred that the two receive while playing Nadal or Federer.

McEnroe gives his words on hatred for Daniil Medvedev

Going back in time, earlier this year, Daniil Medvedev and Rafael Nadal played one of the best finals in the history of the Australian Open. The two indulged in 5 hours and 24 minutes of intense hitting before Nadal finally coming out victorious. Despite the loss, the Russian was praised for his out-of-the-box performance. However, things weren’t as pleasing as they looked.

Right from the moment, he entered the court, Medvedev became a victim of constant booing from the crowd. The booing, as understood by many, was mainly because the majority of the crowd was there for Nadal.

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Recalling the match, McEnroe asserted, “If you watch the match against Nadal in Australia, 90 per cent of the people were for Nadal, because they love Nadal. But he didn’t get that. He didn’t deserve that…” 

A similar incident at French Open for Novak Djokovic

Going ahead from the French Open, a similar sight was visible at the 2022 French Open. Coming in as the Australian Open winner, and also the 13-time champion, Nadal was clearly the hot favorite for the title. Cruising over his opponents, he faced the defending champion, Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals.

However, similar to Medvedev in Australia, Djokovic was also booed during his clash with the Spaniard.

Adding on to his words for Medvedev, McEnroe further said, “…nor did Djokovic deserve it at the French [Open]. When they played, they were booing him when he came out. Djokovic, you may not like him as much as Nadal or Federer, but he’s a credit to our game for God’s sakes.”

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These are just two of the cases. Over the years, there have been a number of instances where players playing against Nadal or Federer have become a victim of booing. Even though the two have suffered a number of losses in the recent past, that hasn’t affected the loyalty of their fans. Is the act of booing justified by the fans? Do let us know your views in the comments below.