- Jannik Sinner clinched the award this year
- Sinner was overwhelmingly voted as the 2023 ATP Fans’ Favourite
- This is a prestigious award
Novak Djokovic ATP Fans’ Favourite Award is the one thing that seems out of reach for the global tennis star.
Jannik Sinner clinched the award this year amid strong hopes that Djokovic would have it given his impressive tennis record in 2023.
Sinner was overwhelmingly voted as the 2023 ATP Fans’ Favourite. This is a prestigious award that recognizes the player who has captured the hearts of tennis fans around the world.
Surprisingly, throughout Djokovic’s career, there has been much debate about the true extent of his worldwide fame.
ATP Fans’ Favourite Award
If you dare to argue that the Serbian champion doesn’t have the backing of tennis fans worldwide, his devoted following will quickly refute that claim.
However, Djokovic had the opportunity and the right to be a serious contender for the 2023 ATP Fans’ Favorite Award this year.
Novak Djokovic. Photo/Eurosport
Over the course of his career, Roger Federer won this award 19 times in a row, and tennis fans never lost interest in him.
When Rafael Nadal, Federer’s longtime competitor and friend, won the ATP Fans’ Favorite Award in 2022, Djokovic complained bitterly about it on social media once more.
Although Sinner won the award for the first time this year, Djokovic did not seem to be in the running to finally dispel the belief that he is not well-liked by the tennis community.
This is despite the fact that he performed exceptionally well this season winning three Grand Slams in a row.
Jannik Sinner Wins 2023 ATP Fans’ Favourite Award
Sinner, 22, was without a doubt one of the tennis season’s biggest stories this season. He won his first ATP 1000 title, advanced to Wimbledon’s semifinals, shone in the ATP Finals in Turin, and, in his final match of the year, helped Italy win the Davis Cup.
Jannik Sinner. Photo/ ATP Tour.
Carlos Alcaraz, who won his first Wimbledon championship and had a spell at the top of the global rankings this season, would have also been a contender for this ATP honor.
However, Djokovic doesn’t seem to be a candidate for this kind of honor following a season in which he has regularly clashed with fans during his games.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion seemed to take inspiration from the criticism directed at him. He adopted a new tactic to silence his detractors: cupping his finger to his ear after winning a pivotal point.
After being heckled during his victory over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain at the June French Open, he took to Twitter to criticize the lack of respect shown by the fans.
A few weeks later, he had to deal with even more disrespect from the Wimbledon crowd.
Then, in a combative on-court interview, Djokovic led the audience when they jeered him at the ATP Finals and clashed with British supporters at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, telling them to “shut up and show some respect”.
The world No.1 says that it is hard to deal with a crowd that is against you.
“The amount of pressure and stress is so much higher if you have the crowd against you. For most of my career, it was mostly hostile environments for me. I kind of learned how to thrive in that environment,” stated Djokovic during an interview with 60 Minutes.
Though some people suggest adversity motivates Djokovic’s tennis career, he truly flourishes when surrounded by positive support.
Importance of ATP Fans’ Favourite Award
Unlike other awards chosen by experts or media, this award is solely based on the votes of fans, making it a direct reflection of their love and appreciation.
Winning the award signifies a player’s ability to connect with fans, transcend the sport, and become a beloved figure in the tennis world.
This recognition serves as a significant morale boost for the player, validating their efforts and motivating them to continue inspiring fans.
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