“Novak Djokovic got the respect he deserves.”

Boris Becker recently made a strong claim about Novak Djokovic’s popularity, suggesting he could eventually overtake Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in global appeal. He also noted that Djokovic has already gotten the respect he truly deserves for everything he has accomplished in his career.

Unlike Federer and Nadal, who retired in 2022 and 2024 respectively, Djokovic continues to compete on the ATP Tour. This year, he has been selective in his tournament entries, but has achieved impressive results, reaching at least the quarter-finals in eight of the 12 tournaments he has entered, winning the Geneva Open along the way.

However, age is slowly catching up with the 24-time Grand Slam champion, who is now 38 and finding it increasingly difficult to chase another major title. Commenting on this, Boris Becker said in a recent interview on The “High performance” Podcast:

“He’s got the respect he’s always deserved. If he plays another year or two, he’ll become the most popular tennis player of all time, because the longer he stays on the court, the more people will realize who Novak really is.”

When it comes to retirement, fans and analysts have long speculated about when Novak Djokovic might finally call it quits for the day. However, the Serbian has no plans to leave just yet. Speaking in Riyadh a month ago, he put all that talk to rest, saying he was still driven by longevity and wanted to keep testing his limits to see how far he could go.

Boris Becker explains what sets Novak Djokovic apart from Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal

In the same interview on the channel “High performance” Podcast, Boris Becker spoke about his time working with Novak Djokovic and their journey together. He also discussed what distinguishes the Serbian from Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, even though all three are considered legends in the sport.

Becker spoke about Djokovic’s upbringing, explaining how he endured many hardships while growing up in a war-torn country, unlike Federer and Nadal. He added that Djokovic’s strong personality helped him overcome those struggles and played a major role in shaping his success.

Boris Becker said: “He has a different spirit. He comes from a country that was at war and had to overcome many obstacles to get where he is now. During the two years we worked together, we were like family.”

He added: “The story of Djokovic’s family comes from a very complex background, and to overcome all that, to win 24 Grand Slam titles, and to break every possible record, is down to his character and character.”

Becker and Djokovic shared a highly successful three-year partnership, during which the latter won six Grand Slam titles and completed a Career Grand Slam title.

Although their professional relationship ended in 2016, the Serbian still has great respect for his former coach. He even supported the Becker family during the time the German was in prison.