<p>When he first appeared on the scene as a brazen upstart, Novak Djokovic said that he infuriated Roger Federer. However, he stated that this just fueled his desire to become the greatest player in the world. The top-ranked player in the world, Serbian, is aiming for an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam in Melbourne, where he has previously claimed ten titles. With two more major titles than the sidelined Rafael Nadal and four more than the retiring Roger Federer, Djokovic is already the most decorated player in the men’s game. These two players are known as the “Big Three”.</p>
<p><img decoding=”async” class=”alignnone wp-image-361004″ src=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/theindiaprint.com-early-in-his-career-novak-djokovic-admits-roger-federer-tensions-2024-01-20t035220-750×500.jpg” alt=”theindiaprint.com early in his career novak djokovic admits roger federer tensions 2024 01 20t035220″ width=”1041″ height=”694″ title=”Early In His Career, Novak Djokovic Admits Roger Federer Tensions 9″ srcset=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/theindiaprint.com-early-in-his-career-novak-djokovic-admits-roger-federer-tensions-2024-01-20t035220-750×500.jpg 750w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/theindiaprint.com-early-in-his-career-novak-djokovic-admits-roger-federer-tensions-2024-01-20t035220-768×512.jpg 768w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/theindiaprint.com-early-in-his-career-novak-djokovic-admits-roger-federer-tensions-2024-01-20t035220-150×100.jpg 150w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/theindiaprint.com-early-in-his-career-novak-djokovic-admits-roger-federer-tensions-2024-01-20t035220.jpg 860w” sizes=”(max-width: 1041px) 100vw, 1041px” /></p>
<p>The 36-year-old won 27 of the 50 games he played against the legendary Swiss player, creating a legendary rivalry between them.</p>
<p>Struggling to win an 11th Australian Open in Melbourne, he hopes to surpass the 24 Grand Slam singles titles held by Margaret Court.</p>
<p>In his 100th match of the competition on Friday, Djokovic easily defeated 30th-seeded Tomas Martin Etcheverry, appearing almost at his best after inconsistent play in the first two rounds.</p>
<p>Following his triumph on Rod Laver Arena, he was asked to consider his early career as he attempted to take on the game’s elite players.</p>
<p>“I know certainly Federer didn’t like the way I was behaving at the beginning,” he said. “I believe that didn’t sit well with him. As for the others, I’m not sure.</p>
<p>“I suppose that some of the best men didn’t think much of me since I wasn’t hesitant to declare my desire to be the greatest player in the world.</p>
<p>“I was confident, and I felt like I have the game to back it up.”</p>
<p>But Djokovic said he has always been respected. He will play Frenchman Adrian Mannarino, the 20th seed, in the round of 16.</p>
<p>“Respect is something that I was taught that needs to be present regardless of what is happening,” he said.</p>
<p>“Of course, a lot may happen on the court during a heated duel. It seems like a very long time ago—20 years or more, I believe, when I made my professional tour debut. It’s rather difficult to determine who liked me more or less.</p>
<p>The Serb also revealed his motivations, stating that he was inspired by criticism he felt was unjust.</p>
<p>“If I were to make a mistake, I would own up to it, raise my hand, say I’m sorry, or do anything else.</p>
<p>“However, if the criticism was directed at me for no apparent reason, I would just continue on the path I had chosen.</p>
<p>“I understood, as I do now, that not everyone can like you for who you are, what you play, how you act, or what you say. It’s typical. Each of us is unique. Each of us has unique tastes.”</p>
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