{"id":50612,"date":"2024-01-21T11:48:57","date_gmt":"2024-01-21T11:48:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/djokovic-admits-federer-tensions-early-in-career-the-express-tribune\/"},"modified":"2024-01-21T11:48:57","modified_gmt":"2024-01-21T11:48:57","slug":"djokovic-admits-federer-tensions-early-in-career-the-express-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/djokovic-admits-federer-tensions-early-in-career-the-express-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"Djokovic admits Federer tensions early in career | The Express Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nMELBOURNE:
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\u00a0Novak Djokovic has opened up on how he riled Roger Federer<\/a> when he broke onto the scene as a cocky upstart but said it only fired up his quest to become the best player in the world.<\/p>\n

The Serbian world number one is gunning for a historic 25th Grand Slam in Melbourne, where he has already won the title 10 times.<\/p>\n

Djokovic is already the most-decorated player in the men\u2019s game, with two more majors under his belt than the injured Rafael Nadal and four ahead of the retired Federer, fellow members of the so-called \u201cBig Three\u201d.<\/p>\n

The 36-year-old enjoyed a storied rivalry with the Swiss great, winning 27 of the 50 matches they played.<\/p>\n

He is gunning for an 11th Australian Open in Melbourne to pull clear of Margaret Court, who also has 24 Grand Slam singles crowns.<\/p>\n

On Friday, Djokovic<\/a> coasted past 30th-seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry in his 100th match at the tournament, looking close to his best after patchy performances in the opening two rounds.<\/p>\n

He was asked after his victory on Rod Laver Arena to reflect on his early career as he sought to challenge the established powers in the game.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cI know certainly Federer didn\u2019t like the way I was behaving at the beginning,\u201d he said. \u201cI think it didn\u2019t sit with him well. I don\u2019t know about the others.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cI guess I wasn\u2019t the favourite type of guy to some of the top guys because I was not afraid to say that I want to be the best player in the world.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cI was confident, and I felt like I have the game to back it up.\u201d<\/p>\n

But Djokovic, who faces French 20th seed Adrian Mannarino in the last 16, said he never lacked respect.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cRespect is something that I was taught that needs to be present regardless of what is happening,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cObviously on the court a lot of things can happen in a kind of heat of a battle. It was a very long time ago now, 20 years since I made my first debut I think on the professional tour. It\u2019s really hard to say who liked me more or less.\u201d<\/p>\n

And the Serb gave an insight into what drives him, saying he was fuelled by what he perceived as unfair criticism.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cIf I made a mistake, I would admit it and, of course, say I make a mistake, I raise my hand, I apologise or whatever.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cBut if the criticism came with no particular reason I think, then I would just keep going in the kind of direction that I chose, and that\u2019s it.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cI knew and I know today that you can\u2019t have everyone liking you, who you are, how you play, how you behave, what you talk about. It\u2019s normal. We\u2019re all different. We are all different preferences.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n