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Marion Bartoli thinks Novak Djokovic thrives when he is facing adversity. Last year, Djokovic was denied participation in two Grand Slam tournaments and at one point Rafael Nadal went ahead in the Grand Slam race by two Slam wins.
But since then, Djokovic has won three Grand Slams and he is now a record 23-time Grand Slam champion. "I just have the feeling that Novak always improves and is even stronger when he competes against adversity. He likes it against them to play and compete;" Bartoli told Tennis365.
Bartoli, the 2013 Wimbledon champion, thinks when everything is said and done Djokovic will be the one with the all-time Grand Slam record. "I think when he ends his career, he will most likely be the one with the most Grand Slam wins and also the one who has achieved everything else," Bartoli said.
Bartoli on why Djokovic isn't as loved as Nadal, Roger Federer
Although Djokovic is a part of the Big Three, for some reason there is a huge difference in the support he is receiving compared to Nadal and Federer. But Bartoli thinks she has an answer to the question, suggesting that when Djokovic showed up on the tennis scene the majority of fans already rooted for either Nadal or Federer.
"It was more the timing than anything. If you talk to all the players and fans around the world, people like Novak's personality and have a lot of respect for his game. Roger [Federer] speaks elegance, Rafa [Nadal], on the other hand, was considered a fighter who won 14 times at Roland Garros.
But nobody likes the third party [Djokovic]. If Novak had had just one other major competitor, he would have had a much larger fan base. I think he's gained everyone's respect, but when it comes to love it's a little different. It's just human nature to cheer for one or the other and you don't want the third," Bartoli said.