Wimbledon stars have all shared exactly what Novak Djokovic is really like

Daily Mirror

2 days ago

Novak Djokovic is often portrayed as the bad boy of tennis, but stars at Wimbledon have shared a different view on the 20-time Grand Slam champion's on-court behaviour
Novak Djokovic has been praised by a host of Wimbledon legends, both past and present, who insist his occasional on-court dramatics don't mask his genuine warmth and generosity off it. The Serbian icon has dominated professional tennis for over two decades, amassing a record-breaking 24 men's Grand Slam titles.
Among those accolades are seven Wimbledon trophies, and the 38-year-old is currently in the hunt for his eighth triumph at SW19. He has set up a third-round clash against countryman Miomir Kecmanovi on Saturday.
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Given his extraordinary tennis legacy, it's hardly shocking that he's made quite an impression on countless rivals, both old and new, through his conduct both during matches and away from the spotlight.
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His legendary feuds with Sir Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal offer glimpses into the fiery temperament of a younger Djokovic, whilst his battles against rising talents like Jannik Sinner and Holger Rune demonstrate his seasoned maturity within the sport.
Here, we have compiled some of the best testimonials about Djokovic's court demeanour, revealing how many adversaries view him as an exceptional competitor in tennis, and also one who occasionally lets his emotions get the better of him.
Jannik Sinner
Sinner recently bested Djokovic in the semi-finals of the French Open, setting up what would become one of the most intense finals at Roland-Garros against Carlos Alcaraz. The Serbian took some time to applaud fans at the famous clay courts, potentially signalling that this would be his final bow at the major tournament.
The Italian tennis star was left deflated by this development, firmly believing tennis "needs" a seasoned champion like Djokovic to stick around for years to come. Speaking after their June encounter, the 23-year-old hailed the Serbian as a "role model" for the next generation of tennis stars, essentially urging the veteran to prolong his illustrious career.
Sinner said: "First of all, we hope that that's not the case. I feel like tennis needs him. Having someone different than the younger guys, my point of view, it's so nice to see him in the locker room and having this energy of everything.
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"I saw him practicing a couple of days ago. He's very precise in everything he does. He's a true role model for all of us. If that's the case, I'm happy to be part of this. Because it's a part of history also. Also for me, it's nice to be part of this. Let's hope it's not the case. He said maybe, so you never know."
Sinner then went on to commend Djokovic's approach to the sport, claiming that the public's view of the star isn't how he really is in person. He added: "I was lucky enough to practice with him when I was very young. In Monaco we practiced a lot. Every time I asked questions, he answered me in a very honest way. It's very nice. People don't see how he really is.
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"I think people from outside or people who don't know him have a different picture of him. It's not like this. He's a very kind person. He's very helpful in times when you need it. I've learned many things from him. I feel like my game style is, not the same, because we are different, but at times similar.
"I've watched a lot of his videos. I was lucky I could share the court with him some time ago. He's very important for me as a player and also as a person. I really appreciate his kind words because it means I'm improving as a player, which is the most important part."
Holger Rune
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Rune is another young tennis star who values Djokovic's words highly, after the Serbian spent some time helping him work on some skills. The 22-year-old revealed his strong rapport with the 38-year-old ahead of his French Open return, claiming it was a "privilege" to learn from one of the best in the sport.
Rune said: "He was always really nice. He was really kind to me. He was giving me advice and stuff like that. I really appreciated that. He's obviously one of the best that we've had. It feels like a big privilege that he has been so nice."
When asked about the best piece of advice Djokovic gave him, the young Dane revealed that the Serbian once suggested less was more when it came to the power on your shot.
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He added: "One specific thing he told me... I think in general young players as they grow up, they get more power and they're more excited about their power.
"I feel like sometimes you go for all or nothing... He said him, personally, he would suggest to me never to go more than 70, 80 percent on every shot, to make sure it's safe enough, but still with good quality.
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"I think his game shows pretty good that he's not risking much, but at the same time he has tremendous quality on his shots," Rune added. "That's one thing he told me."
Sir Andy Murray
Murray is one person who has seen various different sides to Djokovic - the player, the rival and the student. Before retiring from tennis, the Scottish sporting legend won various major trophies against his rival, including the 2012 US Open and 2013 Wimbledon titles.
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Murray returned to Djokovic's life as a short-term coach instead, and had plenty of opinions on the tennis star's outbursts at his box during matches. The Scot had been on the receiving end of some of these fiery tempers as an opponent, but he claimed it wasn't something that upset him as a mentor.
Speaking to the media in January 2025, Murray stressed that only those who've been in similar high-pressure situations can truly grasp the emotions involved in tennis. He said: "Of course, I've thought about it. I would think that I'd be one of the people that would maybe hopefully understand that side of things.
"I know it's not easy out there, and it's stressful, and at times he's going to want to vent towards his team and his box. Provided that he's giving his best effort and trying as hard as he can, I'm absolutely fine with him expressing himself how he wants."
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Murray went on to state the need for balance between joy and frustration on the court. He added: "I've had experiences of that as a player and watched other players. The description often of how the players look in those moments is that they look very flat. And that's also not what you want.
"So obviously, there's a balance to and like I said, as long as he's giving his best effort and trying his hardest, I'm absolutely here for all of that. I'm not wanting anything different."
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The 38-year-old emphasised the sheer commitment and focus needed to excel in tennis, dismissing any notion of a casual, "messing about" approach even during training sessions.
Murray said: "At times it's very enjoyable. But high performance is not supposed to be like laughs and jokes and messing around. It isn't about that. In all the times I've been on tour, I haven't seen that from any of the best players in the world.
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"I've seen it from some of the lower-ranked players, and that's one of the reasons why they're not there. The best players take it seriously and they want to improve, and it's not always easy.
"It's demanding, but it's extremely rewarding when you make a breakthrough in a practice and something starts to feel a little bit better. That's exciting."
Daniil Medvedev
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Veteran tennis star Daniil Medvedev is also in awe of the tennis icon that is Djokovic, as he previously insisted people should be copying the Serbian's actions on the court - not demeaning them. Speaking ahead of his 2025 Australian Open run, the Russian claimed he admired Djokovic's ability to remain both respectful in victory and defeat throughout his career.
Medvedev said: "Personally I like more Novak style. When I was young, I was always admiring it, Novak on the court, can be tricky. Even like, yeah, be tough to his box. Not to the opponent, but you can see he can get frustrated by the opponent playing well or something. But once the match finishes, he tells himself, 'It's done, the battle is done.'
"He always congratulates his opponent, no whether he won or lost. Always smiling. I like this.
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"At the same time, I can understand some people when they lose, you're frustrated, you don't want to smile at your opponent that just beat you. I'm okay with both but I prefer warm handshakes."
In his career, Medvedev has managed to overcome Djokovic on five occasions, while the Serbian has won their other 10 encounters, contributing to his staggering career tally of 1,145 victories. The 29-year-old noted that Djokovic's attitude towards his rivals seems to have remained consistent throughout his illustrious tennis journey.
Rafael Nadal
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Rafael Nadal is one fierce opponent that has consistently remained critical of Djokovic, which is hardly surprising given their intricately-woven history. Two-thirds of the 'Big Three' in tennis, Nadal has come up against the Serbian more times than they would've likely enjoyed - but the Spaniard has come out victorious on many occasions.
Nadal is renowned for clinching a record 14 French Open titles. He also boasts an unparalleled streak of 81 consecutive wins on clay, having bested Djokovic four times at Roland-Garros, cementing his dominance on the surface.
Despite their remarkable achievements, the two titans of tennis haven't always been on the same page on the court. Nadal was critical of Djokovic's conduct during the Tokyo Olympics, where the Serbian missed out on the gold in men's singles - a title he later secured in 2024 - and also lost the bronze medal match to Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta.
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Djokovic's frustration boiled over early in the third set of the bronze medal match, when he hurled his racquet into the empty stands. This was a move made less risky due to the absence of spectators because of COVID-19 restrictions.
He also violently smashed his racket on the ground, prompting Nadal to call on his long-time adversary to keep his emotions in check. At the time, Nadal said: "Luckily there were no people in the stands, and nothing else happened, but hey, they are things that happen from time to time. You have to try to avoid them. The image is not the best.
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"It is important to avoid this, especially as a role model for many children. He is the No. 1 in the world and one of best in history. It's strange that someone so successful reacts this way from time to time, but in the end he's very competitive and reacts like that."
Despite their fierce rivalry spanning more than two decades, the 39-year-old maintained deep respect and affection for Djokovic. This became particularly evident towards the conclusion of the Spaniard's career, when he expressed gratitude to the Serbian for their countless battles during the Six Kings Slam exhibition tournament in October 2024.
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Speaking just a month before his retirement, Nadal said: "Thank you very much for all of the moments we shared on court during all of our careers - we have had an amazing rivalry.
"You helped me to go over my limits so thank you for that, because without that, I would probably not be the player that I am today."
These endorsements from Wimbledon's most prominent figures, both established legends and emerging talents, demonstrate the enormous reverence and admiration Djokovic commands within tennis circles. This comes as little surprise given his extraordinary collection of 24 Grand Slam trophies displayed proudly in his cabinet.