Novak Djokovic is at par with Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali in achievements says Marion Bartoli demanding equal respect for Nole

Marion Bartoli compares Novak Djokovic to the two other legends from different sport.

Novak Djokovic is at par with Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali in achievements says Marion Bartoli demanding equal respect for Nole

Michael Jordan(L), Novak Djokovic (Centre) and Muhammad Ali (R) (Credits: Basketball Network, The Economic Times and WKYT)

Marion Bartoli expressed her feelings regarding the amount of acknowledgment and respect Novak Djokovic receives. The Frenchwoman likes to believe that Djokovic commands much more respect than he actually gets.

The 38-year-old believes that because Djokovic comes from a small Eastern European country with a recent turbulent past, it affects his popularity rating. She had previously stated that if he were American, he would have had a statue of him in every city.

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Bartoli makes a comparison between the Serbian star and the legendary basketball player Michael Jordan and one of the greatest boxers Muhammad Ali. She thinks that both are equal in terms of achievements with Djokovic. The former tennis player says that all of them are evidently the best players of all time, but there is a difference in terms of their admiration and reverence as Djokovic does not come from a big country like the other two do.

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The former Wimbledon champion said, “Where I agree with him is that coming from a small Eastern European country with a recent painful past affects one’s popularity rating. When we take the best athletes of all time, who do we put him next to? Muhammad Ali and Michael Jordan, can he fit into this category? In terms of achievement yes but not in popularity,” to Les Grandes Gueules du Sport.

Keep Exploring: Novak Djokovic officially cleared for Olympics participation as he leads Serbia at the Davis Cup

Novak Djokovic leads Serbia to the quarterfinal of the Davis Cup

The Serbian ace Novak Djokovic flew to Spain to represent his country at the Davis Cup. The tennis star had recently been crowned his 24th Grand Slam title at the US Open. He had defeated Daniil Medvedev to win his 4th US Open title. He took little to no time to rest as he considered playing for his country a priority.

Novak Djokovic (Credits: Tennis Majors)
Novak Djokovic (Credits: Tennis Majors)

The World No. 1 clashed with Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in a face-off between Serbia and Spain on Friday. The 36-year-old won in straight sets with a scoreline of 6-3,6-4. He has thereby knocked out the host Spain from qualifying for the final 8.

Speaking on his participation he said, “My priority will be winning the Davis Cup. I hope it will come step by step. I came here to contribute to the overall triumph of Serbia. The goal is to qualify for the final tournament in Malaga and to go where we didn’t play last year.”

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