'Roger Federer is the most loved sportsman, you can't fight it', says French star

Novak Djokovic tested positive for Coronavirus: the announcement by the World number 1 came via a press release. His wife Jelena was also positive, the children of the Serbian champion were negative. The 17-time Grand Slam champion was infected in the Zara stage of the Adria Tour together with other tennis players such as Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki to staff members. Nole, who will remain in self-isolation for 14 days, has no symptoms. In a recent interview with Tennis Break News, former World number 6 Gilles Simon talks about the difference in popularity of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.

Simon on Federer and Djokovic

"You just have to accept that Roger Federer is not only Roger in tennis but in the whole world," Gilles Simon said. "He's the most loved sportsman, you can't fight (it). Even if Djokovic was 22, 25, 36 Grand Slams, he can say that he was the strongest .. but people will still prefer Roger. Novak, when he forgets that he is less loved and says to himself, like at Wimbledon last year 'ok you are all against me, well you are all going to die, I am going to **** him", well he is unbeatable, you see it in his eyes. When he wants to look cool, he doesn't play as well and he isn't as strong because he doesn't have the same determination. And I love these moments when he forgets himself and he seems to say "Ok, people love you more than me but you know what? I'm going to beat you anyway" - the Frenchman concluded. Djokovic and Federer have contested many acclaimed matches over the years, the most prominent being the 2019 Wimbledon final, the longest final in Wimbledon's history. The 2010 US Open, 2011 US Open, 2011 French Open, and 2018 Paris Masters semifinals along with the 2014 Wimbledon and 2015 Wimbledon finals are other notable matches they have contested. To date Djokovic is the only man to have beaten Federer in all four majors, and likewise Federer is the only man to have beaten Djokovic in all four majors. Both players are considered to be among the greatest of all time. From 2006 to 2010 Federer held the lead in their rivalry, at one point 13-6, but by the end of the 2015 season, they were tied at 22-22. Since then Djokovic has been in control of the rivalry.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2YzkkxV