Novak Djokovic revealed his theory over why he doesn’t get the same support as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal four years ago

Novak Djokovic: The Last of the ‘Big Three’ Still Competing

With Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal now retired, Novak Djokovic stands as the last active member of the legendary ‘Big Three’ in men’s tennis.

The 37-year-old Serbian is navigating his first full season on the ATP Tour without Federer and Nadal in the mix. However, it has been a challenging period for Djokovic, who recently made unwanted history with another early exit at Indian Wells.

His struggles stretch back to the Australian Open, where he was booed off the court after retiring from his semi-final against Alexander Zverev. Throughout his career, Djokovic has not always enjoyed the same level of crowd support as his two biggest rivals, Federer and Nadal, who were widely beloved by fans worldwide.

Djokovic on Why Federer and Nadal Received More Support

The battles between Djokovic, Federer, and Nadal have produced some of the most iconic moments in tennis history. One such match was the 2019 Wimbledon final, where Djokovic defeated Federer in an epic contest despite the Swiss maestro having two championship points and the overwhelming backing of the Centre Court crowd.

Reflecting on that moment in a 2020 Instagram Live chat with Stan Wawrinka, Djokovic admitted he was well aware of the fan support for Federer.

“What I said after the Wimbledon final against Roger, which was one of the most epic matches I’ve been a part of, was that most of the crowd was cheering for him both on and off the court.”

When Wawrinka asked why he thought Federer had more fan support, Djokovic praised both Federer and Nadal for their character and legacy.

“Roger is arguably the greatest player of all time. He is a global icon, and I never expected the majority of the crowd to be on my side when playing against him.”

Djokovic also acknowledged that Nadal enjoys similar admiration and that their reputations extend beyond their achievements on the court.

“It’s the greatness of Federer and Nadal—not just as players but as people. They are charismatic, humble champions who have left a huge mark on our sport. In some ways, I’m lucky to be part of their era, and in others, maybe not.”

Djokovic vs. Nadal vs. Federer: Who is the Greatest?

Since that conversation in 2020, Djokovic has solidified his place at the top of the men’s Grand Slam leaderboard, winning 24 major titles—two more than Nadal and four more than Federer.

His dominance extends beyond Grand Slams, as he holds records for the most weeks as world No.1, most ATP Finals titles, and most Masters 1000 titles. Djokovic also secured the 2024 Olympic gold medal, completing one of the last missing pieces of his career.

Given his remarkable achievements in recent years, many—including Carlos Alcaraz—now believe that Djokovic has surpassed Federer and Nadal to become the greatest player of all time.