Djokovic does not deserve the bad press he has

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"Novak Djokovic does not deserve the bad press he receives". That is one of the reflections I make after what happened last night at Juan Martín del Potro's farewell. In the midst of his preseason to face a new year on the circuit, when he could be training or simply resting with his family, the Serbian chose to accompany the Argentine in his farewell and left all of Argentina completely enamored with his way of being. A way that, much of the press, unjustly tarnishes.

Because Nole is just as he was seen last night in Buenos Aires. Approachable, humble, fun, generous. Many Argentines, both those who attended the stadium and those who watched the farewell on television, highlighted the performance the Serbian had in Delpo's farewell, delighting everyone present and supporting Juan Martín in such an important moment for him as that was. This clashed head-on with the image that many journalists and many media outlets have painted of him over all these years. Djokovic will have his mistakes, like everyone, he may break rackets and have moments on the court where he shows a side of himself he surely won't be proud of, but he is imperfect like any human being, without overshadowing the very generous soul he has.

Nole has always demonstrated it over all these years. He has always been there when needed and stood by the most important rivals of his career in their farewells. Without any obligation and without having to do so because Djokovic never had a close relationship with either Federer or Nadal, but he showed everyone that the past did not matter to him and that what was shared among all of them remained.

In case anyone forgot, Novak accompanied Federer on the day of his farewell. He accepted the role he was given and did not say a word out of place. In the famous photo, Roger is sitting next to Rafa. Behind, a couple of meters away from him, Djokovic accompanies him. Another in his place, perhaps, being the figure he is, would have tried to appear more actively. Not him. He had his moment with him, approaching from behind to place his hands on Federer's shoulders and comfort him, as well as lifting and tossing him at the final moment.

He also did not shy away from being next to Nadal in his farewell. Destiny made Novak the last official rival in Rafa's career (not counting the Davis Cup), as well as he had very nice gestures towards the Spaniard on the day of the farewell at the Six Kings Slam. He planned to attend the farewell ceremony in Malaga, only to be asked to go on Friday, without foreseeing that Spain would be eliminated on Tuesday, advancing Rafa's farewell. He was also with Murray, the only one of the Big 3 who attended, when the Brit said goodbye at Wimbledon. Gestures that speak to the real person he is.

Punished and battered by the press over the years

The international press, especially the Spanish press, made sure to hit the third guest at the Federer-Nadal party time and time again. They did not accept that a new guy had arrived to stay, and for years they hit him over and over again, highlighting his flaws and belittling his strengths. His personality, furthermore, made him grow when receiving those blows from the outside, which provoked even more hatred towards him, as they saw it as a provocation towards everyone.

His greatest "mistake" was wanting to be the best in history. The press labeled him as the villain of the movie. Once they did that, it becomes difficult to shake off. He made his way regardless of all that, waiting patiently and knowing that, over time, his actions and achievements would prevail over those words many hurled against him. Years will go by, decades, centuries, and always in that History, the name of Novak Djokovic will appear, engraved in golden letters, whereas no one will remember the owners of those letters poured with malice upon him.

Stigmatized to the limit, Novak rebelled against the system. It seems like nothing now, but it is impossible to forget that Djokovic was prevented from competing in several Grand Slams because he refused to get vaccinated. In a time like the current one, where COVID seems to not matter to anyone anymore and even going to work with the virus is seen as normal, it is striking to know that a tennis player was prevented from playing in a tournament without having the vaccine, just as he was kicked out of a country after being locked up in a rundown hotel for a week, used politically as a public puppet to gain votes.

And yet, despite his achievements, there are still those who invent absurd statistics to say that Djokovic is not the best in history. No matter what they invent or say, certain narrow-minded individuals, there has not been a tennis player who has won more than him. The upcoming generations will have Nole, and no others, as the goal to surpass. He may not have played the most beautifully, but anyone aspiring to be the best in history tomorrow will have to go through the Novak hurdle, there's no escaping it.

And hopefully, if there is any justice within the world of tennis (though this may be asking too much), Djokovic can retire with at least a prize for the most beloved player. Federer monopolized it while he was active. Nadal achieved it once before retiring. It cannot be that the greatest tennis player of all time cannot appear on that list. Everything is due, my friends, to the bad press he has always received, which has ended up influencing a large social majority. He does not deserve it. The facts speak for themselves.
 

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