Djokovic Is Not Arrogant And Doesn't Belittle You Says Argentina's No.1 Cerundolo
ATP
World No. 21 Francisco Cerundolo affirmed that Novak Djokovic is "not arrogant" and "doesn't belittle" his fellow pros.
Public opinion about Djokovic has been mixed throughout his glittering career. Since he burst onto the scene as the third member of the already-established duopoly of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, Djokovic struggled to win over the hearts of tennis fans.
Djokovic's on-court demeanor has also been mistaken as a perceived lack of sportsmanship. His dogged competitiveness and emotional outbursts have led to a section of tennis fans portraying him as somewhat egocentric.
Recently, Djokovic admitted that he's learned to thrive in hostile environments. Even after amassing a record 24 Grand Slams and many other records, he has never commanded the lion's share of fan support in his matches.
In the past, contentious claims on equal pay and even his stance against COVID-19 vaccination have landed him in hot water with the tennis fraternity, who feel he is self-centered. But Argentina's top-ranked ATP player Cerundolo has given his backing for Djokovic.
In an interview with Clank.media, Cerundolo has shared his experience while encountering the Serbian. He states that the World No. 1 is highly outgoing, contrary to people's perception, even though he has not had the opportunity to converse with him longer than he would have hoped.
"When I see Novak, he always greets me. I've never sat down to talk to him, but I'd like to. He's not arrogant or doesn’t belittle you, none of that. He knows how you're doing and what everyone's results are."- Cerundolo on Clank.media (translated from Spanish)
Cerundolo then proclaimed the 36-year-old legend as undoubtedly the greatest tennis player of all time, stating that his numbers remain unmatched. Djokovic has been ranked No. 1 for over 400 weeks and has won more Grand Slams than any other ATP player.
"In terms of results, yes, it's clear."
