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Hrbaty Says Djokovic More Popular Than Federer and Nadal
12 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles
Former ATP world no. 12 Dominik Hrbaty dropped a bombshell today on Twitter, revealing that the professional tennis locker room prefers the friendly personality of Novak Djokovic over Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
“I have the best experience with Djokovic,” said Hrbaty. “By the way, out of the big three, he is by far most popular among other players. Because he always did a lot for the others. When someone needs to stand up, he is in the front line.”
This information from Hrbaty, a former Roland Garros quarterfinalist, contradicts the general perception that Federer is very popular among his peers and Djokovic is considered more of a “phony.”
In my personal experience with all four players, of which I’ve spent some time in their careers, all four have been very kind and polite and helpful. All four are very likable.
I remember now doing a Biofile with Hrbaty in the US Open locker room in 2007 and Roger Federer walked by and made a comment. Here is what Hrbaty told me, which is part of my “Facing Federer” book: “I think Roger is a very funny guy. We used to play a lot of doubles together, all the tournaments together. We do a lot of crazy stuff together. The kind of sense of humor you do with your friends, it can never hurt you or whatever. You always take it as a good joke…” Just at that precise moment Roger Federer walked by us at Hrbaty’s locker and said with a smile, “No interviews in here!”
Which made Hrbaty laugh and say, “You see?! So he can never really make an offense that can hurt your feelings.”
The only negative locker room I’ve heard of the big three was a Dutch player telling a reporter a couple of years ago that there is a big name player whose perceived personality and image are totally different than reality. The reporter asked this player to reveal who he was talking of. The player told the reporter to turn off his recorder. When the off button was pressed the player said: “Fe—–.”
So it appears the actual images of the big three may not be exactly as the media have portrayed over the years… if you believe Dominik Hrbaty, who has no motive to lie.
AO · Dominik Hrbaty · Novak Djokovic · Rafael Nadal · Roger Federer
Sam · January 13, 2022 at 1:50 am
Doesn’t surprise me at all. To me, Djokovic has always come across as the most likable, followed by Nadal, and then Federer last.
Last year, someone posted this shocking firsthand account of Federer’s behavior at Wimbledon:
“I have been to Wimbledon since 2011, [and] there’s one time (during one of my first years there, cannot remember which year) Federer came out after practicing at the Aorangi Park. There were like 4-5 cameras waiting for him already, so we knew someone big was coming out. Then he came out, smiling, taking a pen from a fan and signing for the people there. Then 3 mins later, when those cameras turned off after filming enough, he stopped signing immediately, THREW THE PEN TO THE GROUND and walked away without looking back. Y’all can only imagine the awkward silence after that. All of us was just shocked that he did that in front of so many people, the fans, the journalists, cameramen, staffs, security guys, just so many people. F*** the elegant classy gentleman image of him. I was neutral towards him before that incident, after that, I became a hater until the day he retires and surely even after that.
“A fantastic player, a genius on court, but a classless guy off court, hidden behind the gentleman image the media made for him. . . .
“[By the way, w]e were all showing our things waiting for him to sign (and I got mine, in case you’re gonna say I did not get it so I was just salty).”
Scoop Malinowski · January 13, 2022 at 8:22 am
Sam I guess Federer had a Marcelo Rios moment, Rios was one of his idols and I gave him a copy of my Rios book. In Roger’s defense after 20 years of playing the gentleman superstar act he can be forgiven for having a human moment but it does diminish his reputation. I know Djokovic has had some nasty moments witnessed by fans but Nadal actually has not, to my knowledge. What I don’t like about Federer is his cheap shots at Djokovic. And his silence this week in supporting him. It seems Federer hates Djokovic and that’s a shame he should just accept he’s the greater player and greater champion.
Sam · January 14, 2022 at 2:12 pm
In Roger’s defense after 20 years of playing the gentleman superstar act he can be forgiven for having a human moment but it does diminish his reputation.
Scoop, a human moment occurs when someone blows their top over something that just happened. It’s not premeditated. 😉
Federer’s behavior here was clearly premeditated. He was acting candy-sweet for the cameras like Dr. Jekyll, but of course he knew that they’d eventually be shutting off. And once they did, his personality completely changed. Instead of a “human” moment, this was more a “Mr. Hyde” moment. 🤮
And based on what that Dutch player said, I suspect Federer’s behavior at that Wimbledon was just business as usual for him.
I know Djokovic has had some nasty moments witnessed by fans
Do you mean he’s treated fans badly?
but Nadal actually has not, to my knowledge.
That’s good. I guess he just prefers to bully fellow players instead, like Lukas Rosol at Wimbledon. 😉
Sam · January 14, 2022 at 2:21 pm
Oh, I have a question. And I believe what Hrbaty is saying. So . . . does that mean that all those ATP sportsmanship awards (or whatever they’re called) supposedly voted on by the players are rigged? 🤔
Scoop Malinowski · January 14, 2022 at 3:33 pm
Sam, No I know a former wta top ten player who saw djokovic mistreat his team during a practice at miami open while serena was playing the final and nobody was there at the novak practice but her. He was feeling angry and stressed that day before a big final vs Nadal or Murray. I have never heard of Djokovic being bad with fans, in fact all the stories I’ve heard he is great with fans. One guy told me he saw a guy ask Djokovic help him to propose to his gf at Miami Open and Djokovic did! We also saw Djokovic take that ballboy under his umbrella and share a water with him, the kid’s reaction was priceless. Federer was too aloof to ever create such a moment with a kid. Nadal is also excellent always with fans, better than Federer. Maybe Federer buys the sportsmanship award. He’s a good sport yes but I think Lopez, Schwartman, Busta, Agut, Hurkacz, Dimitrov, Isner, Delpo, and others are better.
Scoop Malinowski · January 15, 2022 at 9:49 pm
Djokovic on the zika virus in 2016: Q. Did you or your team investigate that Zika question that seems to be troubling a lot of athletes? What were the conclusions that you came to?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yes. I did get more information on it. My decision is to go to Olympic Games, because from the informations and facts that I got, it’s not as it’s presented, it’s not as dangerous. Of course there is always a possibility that you can get that virus, but I think, you know, maybe the fuss and the buzz about that virus has been created with some kind of other intent. But I’m not going to get into that. But, you know, for me it’s safe enough and I’m going to go.
Sam · January 16, 2022 at 1:28 am
Sam, No I know a former wta top ten player who saw djokovic mistreat his team during a practice at miami open while serena was playing the final and nobody was there at the novak practice but her. He was feeling angry and stressed that day before a big final vs Nadal or Murray.
Scoop, yes, I remember you mentioning the incident. And I think it could qualify as a “human moment,” as it obviously wasn’t premeditated. Certainly not a good look, but it seems the stress got to him and he snapped. It’s understandable. Hopefully he apologized to his team afterward at least.
I have never heard of Djokovic being bad with fans, in fact all the stories I’ve heard he is great with fans.
Glad to hear it! 👍 The way you treat your fans speaks volumes, in my opinion.
One guy told me he saw a guy ask Djokovic help him to propose to his gf at Miami Open and Djokovic did! We also saw Djokovic take that ballboy under his umbrella and share a water with him, the kid’s reaction was priceless.
😎
Nadal is also excellent always with fans, better than Federer.
That’s good to hear.
Maybe Federer buys the sportsmanship award.
He could certainly afford to. 😉
He’s a good sport yes but I think Lopez, Schwartman, Busta, Agut, Hurkacz, Dimitrov, Isner, Delpo, and others are better.
Frankly, they should limit how many times one player can win it. Unfortunately, it’s probably all about generating revenue. 🤢
Sam · January 16, 2022 at 1:31 am
Djokovic said:
but I think, you know, maybe the fuss and the buzz about that virus has been created with some kind of other intent. But I’m not going to get into that.
Smart man. 🦊 😄
Scoop Malinowski · January 16, 2022 at 7:54 am
Monfils another player who never provokes controversy or trouble with opponents. Giving it to Federer so many times suggests some kind of fix and favoritism.
Scoop Malinowski · January 16, 2022 at 8:03 am
I think these 2016 quotes by Djokovic on zika show he’s very learned on the subject and suspicious about any kind of virus and the establishment punished him for his defiance.
ZakMcCrack · January 17, 2022 at 5:27 pm
[…]Federer was too aloof to ever create such a moment with a kid. Nadal is also excellent always with fans, better than Federer. Maybe Federer buys the sportsmanship award[…]
Scoop, probably no other top tier professional in the history of the sport has been doing a better job than Federer when it comes to bottle-feeding ballkids with pin-point accuracy…
Regarding “The Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award” (A player’s vote, nota bene): why don’t you ask around at the august table of countless declared Djokovic-Sympathisers; in order to get to the bottom of why Nole’s superior popularity amongst his peers isn’t already reflected in the number of votes…?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HVhiauL7xnc
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xH7yWZmzw1o
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=deZNhetivI8
Scoop Malinowski · January 17, 2022 at 5:57 pm
Zak McCrack, Both Fed and Djokovic are very charming and likeable, neither are perfect. Here is some content recently gathered for my forthcoming Facing Novak Djokovic book…
Close Encounters With Novak Djokovic
Miguel Seabra (Eurosport Comentator): Once we were going alongside a mirror and he looked at his image and said, ‘I look like Brad Pitt… … after a car crash.’ It was in Lisbon, Portugal, on our way back from soccer match. I mean, how can you be arrogant – people say he is – if you say something like that?!?
Dr. Aaron Friedrich: I’ve encountered him many times at US Open qualies, Miami Open and at our hotel in Rome. He is a terrific guy, always friendly.