By Abbie Meehan
Wimbledon legends – past and present – have repeatedly defended Novak Djokovic , insisting that his on-court outbursts do not detract from his kind and genuine personality. With an extremely successful career spanning over 20 years, the Serbian tennis ace has amassed an unprecedented 24 men’s Grand Slam titles. Among these are seven Wimbledon crowns, and the 38-year-old is currently vying for his eighth title at SW19 this week. As he prepares to face fellow Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic in the third round on Saturday, Djokovic’s impact on his tennis peers has become apparent. His rivalries with veterans like Sir Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal offer a glimpse into his youthful temperament, while his battles against newer stars like Jannik Sinner and Holger Rune showcase his mature wisdom in the sport. Here, we have compiled some insightful comments from his opponents, highlighting their admiration for Djokovic as a top tennis star, despite his occasional displays of temper. Sinner recently beat Djokovic in the semi-finals at the French Open, as he headed into what was to be one of the most intense finals at Roland-Garros for some time, against the eventual winner Carlos Alcaraz. The Serbian spent some time thanking fans and soaking in the atmosphere on the famous clay courts, potentially signalling that he would never return to the hallowed place as a competitor in the future. Sinner was disheartened by the news, emphasising that the tennis world “needs” a seasoned star like Djokovic to remain in the sport for the foreseeable future. In a post-match interview in June, the 23-year-old praised the Serbian as a “role model” for younger tennis stars, indirectly urging him to continue competing. The Italian tennis star 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. “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 continued to commend Djokovic’s approach to the sport, indicating that those on the outside often misconstrue the star’s character. 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. “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.” Danish tennis ace Holger Rune is another up-and-coming star that claims he has learnt a lot from Djokovic while coming up in the ranks. The 22-year-old revealed his relationship with the Serbian ahead of his French Open return, adding that it was a “privilege” to study the top pro. 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 most valuable tip Djokovic had given him, Rune revealed that the Serbian champion once advised that less could be more regarding the power behind a shot. 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. “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.” Murray has definitely seen many different facets of Djokovic’s career, from some unique angles that very few would be able to share. The 38-year-old battled with Djokovic in many major finals, winning a few as well – including the 2012 US Open and the 2013 Wimbledon trophies against the elite opponent. The Scottish sporting icon has not only played against and with the Serbian, but also coached him for a short period of time after his retirement. Having previously experienced some of Djokovic’s on-court outbursts as an opponent, the 38-year-old insisted that these incidents didn’t trouble him in his coaching capacity. While speaking to the media in January 2025, Murray expressed his belief that only those who have faced similar pressures can truly grasp the emotions experienced by tennis professionals. 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.” Murray noted the importance of maintaining a balance between positive and negative emotions 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.” The 38-year-old highlighted that reaching the pinnacle of tennis demands immense dedication, skill, and a serious approach, even during practice 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. “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.” Veteran tennis ace Daniil Medvedev is another athlete who lives in awe of Djokovic’s talent and personality on the court. The Russian star previously wished for other tennis stars to copy the Serbian’s actions, stating before the 2025 Australian Open that he is gracious in victory and in defeat. 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. “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.” Throughout his career, Medvedev has bested Djokovic in five out of fifteen encounters, while the Serbian has notched up an impressive 1,145 career wins to date. And according to the 29-year-old, Djokovic’s attitude towards his rivals seems consistent over his illustrious tenure in tennis. One opponent that has faced Djokovic more times that he’d like is Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal. Two-thirds of the ‘Big Three’ in tennis, the duo have faced off in numerous major finals, winning an incredible 46 Grand Slam titles combined. Regarding Rafael Nadal’s unparalleled success, the now-retired 39-year-old holds a record 14 French Open titles. He also secured a record-breaking streak of 81 consecutive wins on clay courts, with notable triumphs over Djokovic at Roland-Garros contributing to his clay-court expertise. Despite their shared success, the two have experienced some tension during competitions, showcased by Nadal’s criticism of Djokovic’s behaviour during the Tokyo Olympics. Although he ultimately seized the gold medal in the men’s singles in 2024, Djokovic was bested in the semi-final and also in the bronze medal match. The Serbian’s conduct in Tokyo, which included throwing his racquet into empty stands and smashing it on the court, prompted his rival to call for better emotional restraint. 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. “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.” In spite of their intense rivalry spanning over two decades, Nadal’s profound respect and fondness for Djokovic has remained evident. This was particularly apparent during the twilight of the Spanish player’s career when, at the Six Kings Slam exhibition in October 2024, he expressed his gratitude to Djokovic for their numerous confrontations. Nadal, who retired a month after the event, 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.” The warm tributes delivered by some of Wimbledon’s greatest and current stars are a testament to the esteem in which Djokovic is held within the tennis community. This comes as no surprise given his remarkable haul of 24 Grand Slam titles and the prominence of his achievements in the history of men’s tennis.