Novak Djokovic on breaking through a Federer–Nadal Era

Novak Djokovic has opened up about his rise to world No. 1 and the resistance he faced while breaking into an era dominated by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

Djokovic said his background and direct ambition set him apart at a time when men’s tennis was already shaped by established stars.

“Federer and Nadal come from two Western powers. I arrived from Serbia and said out loud that I was going to be number one. The entire system didn’t like that,” Djokovic said. “I felt like an unwanted guest crashing their party.”

He explained that the reaction went beyond competition, affecting how he was viewed across the sport.

“They wanted me to play to their tune, to fit into their script,” he said. “It hurt me so much that I even changed my behaviour, hoping they would accept me.”

Djokovic added that over time he realised acceptance was not something he could control.

“In the end, I understood that I needed to stay true to myself and accept that some people will never like me. That’s fine. I am who I am.”

Reflecting on his first spell as world No. 1, Djokovic said the dynamic with Federer and Nadal shifted, though his respect for them remained.

“I looked up to them then and I still do for paving the road,” he said. “But once I felt the distance, I said, ‘Fine. No problem.’”

Djokovic made these remarks in a sit-down interview with Slaven Bilic on the Failures of Champions podcast.