‘When He was Kicking My A**’- Did Rafael Nadal’s ‘Energy’ Towards Novak Djokovic’s On Court Antics Shift Due to a Gradual Change in Dominance?

Novak Djokovic is a player who is not only known for his mind-blowing performances but his way of capturing the audience as well. While he started his journey as a professional player, Novak made everyone fall in love with him. It was not only due to his magnificent shots but for the ways he used to keep the fans entertained. The Nole used to imitate players in a healthy way to entertain his audience. One of the players that he imitated was Rafael Nadal.

However, in a recent revelation, Novak Djokovic has come up with a shocker. Even though the two have a great bond, Novak suggested that Rafa had a major shift in his attitude. The question that comes out of it is, did Rafael Nadal really not like Novak Djokovic imitating him?

Did Rafael Nadal not like Djokovic imitating him?

Novak Djokovic, in a candid revelation, sheds light on the intriguing dynamic between him and his long-time rival, Rafael Nadal. Djokovic’s imitations of fellow players, including Nadal, have been a subject of amusement and scrutiny throughout his career. He remembers about the early days when Nadal, often dominant on the court, seemingly tolerated these playful imitations.

In Djokovic’s words, “Early on in my career, when he was kicking my a** on the court, he was ok with that. But when I started winning a few matches I felt like the energy shifted a bit.”

This suggests that Nadal’s easygoing attitude towards Djokovic’s imitations was linked to his on-court superiority during those years. However, as Djokovic’s game evolved, and he began to notch up victories against the Spaniard, he sensed a subtle shift in Nadal’s energy.

However, the question still arises, was it the dominance displayed by Djoker that led Rafa to dislike his imitations While it still remains answerable, Rafa is not the only player whom Novak has imitated throughout his career.

Also read: 52 Days after Gushing over Novak Djokovic’s Family, NFL Legend Tom Brady Receives Heart-Warming Message from the Serb on His Special Day

The likes of Maria Sharapova, Nick Kyrgios, and many others haven’t been able to escape the wrath of the Serbian.

Novak Djokovic imitates famous tennis players

There’s a reason why Novak Djokovic has got himself the name Djoker. It is due to his imitations of players which he used to do during the early days of his career. During his early years as a professional player, Novak made a name for himself not because of his game style but for his skills of imitating players.

Novak Djokovic imitated Maria Sharapova, Nick Kyrgios, Rafael Nadal, and many others during his early times. However, while sometimes the players took it light-heartedly, there have been moments when the players did not like the way he imitated.

Thus, over the years, Novak Djokovic has been known to imitate professional players to keep the audience and players entertained. While it still remains a question if Rafael Nadal liked his imitations or not, fans continue to enjoy the Serbian’s hilarious imitations.

Watch this story: ‘I Really Love…’ – Naomi Osaka Points to the Ancient Technique She Relies on for Keeping Calm 2 Years After Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas Vouched for It