Andy Roddick reveals why Novak Djokovic ‘doesn’t get enough credit’ as he gives locker room insight
Former world No 1 Andy Roddick does not believe tennis legend Novak Djokovic is given enough credit for “how friendly he is with people in and around the locker room.”
The 2003 US Open champion also praised Djokovic’s great rivals Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer for their off-court behaviour as he revealed there are “a lot of tour guys who aren’t nearly as good” in this regard.
Former ATP world No 12 Dominik Hrbaty is one player who has debunked any suggestions Djokovic is not popular among his fellow players in the locker room.
“Very friendly and fun. I have the best experience with Novak. In his presence, one feels only good. By the way, out of the Big Three, he is by far the most popular among other players,” Hrbaty told Pravda in 2022.
“Because he always did the most for others. When someone needs to stand up, he is always in the front line. The others see it. When the players had to choose someone to represent them, he won the most votes.”
Former WTA doubles world No 1 Sania Mirza did the same in an interview with The Week last year: “I do not know if he (Djokovic) is misunderstood on the circuit; he is quite liked actually on the tour. Everybody has a lot of respect for him, as they should.”
Speaking on his Served with Andy Roddick podcast, Roddick expressed his irritation with the way many players act behind the scenes, but explained Nadal, Federer and Djokovic do not fall into this category.
“There are a lot of tour guys who aren’t nearly as good as Rafa, who, I said this about Roger too back in the day, but they will switch their grip tapes out, re-grip, then leave something on the floor and just walk away,” the American said.
“It drives me absolutely crazy, they’ll get a stretch from the trainer, get up and not say ‘thank you’ and walk out. It just drives me crazy.
“It’s been nice in tennis that two of your top three stewards, including Novak, Novak actually, he doesn’t get enough credit for how friendly he is with people in and around the locker room.
“I know how Rafa was in the locker room, it feels like he never had a bad day and even if he was having a bad day, it never got in the way of him being cordial, respectful.
“It’s nice to see that those guys reset the table on, ‘Hey listen, I’m one of the best players of all time, I’m one of the favourites every time I walk into a locker room but there’s also common courtesy involved with the way I go day to day’.”
World No 1 Djokovic suffered a shock defeat to world No 123 Luca Nardi in the third round of the Indian Wells Open on Monday.
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