Tennis legend Novak Djokovic has revealed the emotional toll of never achieving the same level of fan adoration as his greatest rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Speaking to former Croatian footballer Slaven Bilic on Failure of Champions, the Serbian admitted: "I acted and still felt like an unwanted child."
The 24-time Grand Slam champion explained how his emergence disrupted the beloved Federer-Nadal duopoly that had captivated tennis audiences worldwide.
"I was never as loved as Federer and Nadal because I wasn't supposed to be there. I was the little guy, the third guy who came along and said: 'I'm going to be No 1'. Many people didn't like that," Djokovic confessed.
Tennis legend Novak Djokovic has revealed the emotional toll of never achieving the same level of fan adoration as his greatest rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal
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Despite becoming the most decorated male tennis player in history, Djokovic's sense of being unwelcome persisted throughout his career.
The Serbian has amassed an unparalleled collection of achievements, including 24 Grand Slam titles, 40 ATP 1000 trophies, and a record 428 weeks at world number one.
Yet these extraordinary accomplishments failed to win over fans who viewed him as an interloper in the Federer-Nadal rivalry.
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Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have 66 Grand Slam titles between them
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"I asked myself why that was. It hurt me. Then I thought the fans would accept me if I acted differently, but that wasn't the case either," he revealed.
His status as "the third guy" remained a painful reality even as he surpassed both rivals statistically.
The emotional impact of this rejection was profound and enduring for Djokovic, who struggled to understand why his success provoked such negative reactions.
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He disclosed that "people didn't like" both his behaviour and his disruption of the established tennis hierarchy between Federer and Nadal.
The Serbian's ambition to reach the summit of men's tennis was met with hostility from supporters who had grown attached to the existing rivalry.
His attempts to modify his behaviour in hopes of gaining acceptance proved futile, as the antipathy towards him stemmed from his very presence at the top of the sport rather than his personality or conduct.
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Despite the pain of rejection, Djokovic maintained unwavering respect for his rivals throughout their battles on court.
"Just because someone is my biggest rival doesn't mean I wish them harm, hate them, or want to do anything else on the court to defeat them. We fought for the win, and the better player won," he told Bilic.
Novak Djokovic is currently preparing for Wimbledon
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He emphasised: "I've never said a single bad word about them and never will. I looked up to them and still do, but I've always gotten along better with Nadal."
Ultimately, Djokovic found peace by remaining authentic: "I am a man with many flaws, of course. Nevertheless, I have always tried to live with heart and good intentions and, ultimately, to be myself."
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