Medvedev believes Djokovic will get due respect only post retirement

US Open champion Daniil Medvedev said that he believes 20-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic might be fully appreciated only after he retires from tennis. The Serb, on Sunday defeated Medvedev in the final of Masters 1000 at Paris to win a record-breaking 37th title. 

“The tide is turning in tennis legend Novak Djokovic’s favour in gaining the respect he deserves from followers of the sport but he may have to wait for years post-retirement to be fully appreciated,” Daniil Medvedev said, as per AFP reports. 

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Djokovic came back from a set down to beat Medvedev 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the final. After his win in the semi final against Hubert Hurkacz, the defending French Open champion had assured himself of a season-ending world number one for a seventh time. 

Djokovic was denied a Grand Slam sweep by the World No 2 Medvedev in the US Open final. 

While he might have numerous records batting for him, Djokovic has not always been a crowd-pleaser. He was riled by spectators in the Wimbledon. His prime opponents, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, on the other hand are generally loved. 

Medvedev, though, Djokovic will eventually get the recognition he deserves for his achievements.

“I have the feeling that people start more and more to respect what he has done in tennis. Because, well, he continues to beat the records. I feel like unless they are real haters, which are not real fans, people start to see what he’s done and to see that he’s able to do more,” Medvedev said. 

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“I think that maybe ten years after he retires, because there is going to be people who will start watching tennis who will not have seen him play,” he continued 

“Just like me, I didn’t see (Pete) Sampras play, I was too young but I heard he was amazing — it’s going to be the same. There are going to be new people coming to tennis who are just going to read in Wikipedia what were the results. Who was the World No. 1 for most weeks, for most times in the end, and they are going to see Novak everywhere. That’s when people are going to start to understand, Okay, that’s amazing what he has done,” the World No 2 added.