Novak Djokovic says it hurt him that he wasn’t as loved as Roger & Rafa, ‘I was never as loved as Federer & Nadal because I wasn't supposed to be there. I was the little guy, the 3rd guy who came & said I'm going to be #1.. Many people didn't like that’
“I acted and still felt like an unwanted child. I asked myself why that was. It hurt me. Then I thought the fans would accept me if I acted differently. But that wasn't the case either.”
“Just because someone is my biggest rival doesn't mean I wish them harm, hate them, or want to do anything else on the court to defeat them. We fought for the win, and the better player won.”
“I've always respected both him and Federer; I've never said a single bad word about them and never will. I looked up to them and still do. But I've always gotten along better with Nadal.”
https://x.com/TheTennisLetter/status/1933235067608052197