'I know Novak Djokovic is jealous of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal – I've played them all'

Novak Djokovic is the astir palmy antheral subordinate successful the past of tennis, but the Serbian is acold from universally popular, and Tim Henman believes helium knows why

Tennis fable Tim Henman thinks Novak Djokovic "craves" thing Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have.

This is contempt the information that the Serbian has much Grand Slam titles than his iconic counterparts. Nonetheless, he's ne'er received the aforesaid benignant of wide adulation that Federer and Nadal person implicit the people of their legendary careers, and Henman reckons Djokovic mightiness beryllium a interaction jealous.

The 37-year-old was booed disconnected court aft retiring conscionable a acceptable into his Australian Open semi-final clash with Alexander Zverev owed to a hamstring problem. Djokovic had been jeered and pilloried by the assemblage passim the tournament, thing Henman branded "indefensible".

"I deliberation the fans got it wholly wrong," helium told the Express. "For idiosyncratic who is going for their 11th Australian Open title, their 25th slam, to propulsion retired aft a set, he's evidently successful a atrocious way. For him to beryllium booed successful that infinitesimal is beauteous indefensible."

That said, the erstwhile British No. 1 did admit that Djokovic's behaviour often didn't assistance matters. "I'm not connected societal media, but what I perceive goes connected with him and his fans, it's chaos, isn't it?" helium said. "And determination person been times erstwhile he's astir apt attracted that. But helium perfectly doesn't merit to beryllium booed disconnected tribunal aft he's had to retire."

Continuing, Henman suggested that a tendency to beryllium arsenic loved arsenic Federer and Nadal was fuelling Djokovic's abrasive antics. "I deliberation if you excavation a spot deeper, successful my opinion, he's ever craved the affection that's been shown to Federer and Nadal. And immoderate people, I guess, don't similar that, that helium behaves successful that way," Henman added.

"But that full happening isn't truly my scene. You look astatine what he's achieved, you look astatine astir each stat and he's the champion successful each of them. He's phenomenal."

Djokovic has ever had a analyzable narration with tennis fans, with his on-court swagger and relentless competitiveness stirring up mixed feelings. While immoderate laud his steely determination and unwavering spirit, others are enactment disconnected by his assertiveness, peculiarly erstwhile comparing him to Federer and Nadal.

Tensions genuinely escalated during the Covid-19 vaccine controversy successful 2022, erstwhile the Belgrade native's stance made him a polarising fig beyond the sport. Since then, the hostility toward him has lone grown, and now, astir everyplace helium plays, helium finds himself formed arsenic tennis' eventual villain.

Despite the uproar, Djokovic's grounds speaks volumes: he's won much Grand Slams than immoderate different antheral player, and is conscionable 1 triumph shy of dethroning Margaret Court as, statistically, the astir palmy tennis subordinate of each time. Yet, with the timepiece ticking, injuries accruing, and his carnal prowess successful question, 2025 mightiness good beryllium a lawsuit of present oregon ne'er successful presumption of reaching apical spot.

Henman, who mislaid his 1 and lone brushwood with Djokovic backmost successful 2006, reached six Grand Slam semi-finals during his career, but ne'er made it to a final. He did, however, clinch 11 ATP singles titles, and was British No. 1 for 8 consecutive years until Andy Murray took implicit the mantle successful 2005.

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