Andy Murray has admitted he sympathises with Novak Djokovic amid his struggles for acceptance as the Paris Olympics loom.
Murray has already confirmed he’ll be retiring from tennis after the games, with the 37-year-old poised to call time on his glittering career.
The Briton has won two Olympic gold medals over the years, beating Roger Federer in 2012 before going on to get the better of Juan Martin del Potro four years later.
Djokovic is, statistically at least, the greatest male tennis player of all time.
Andy Murray has admitted he sympathises with Novak Djokovic amid his struggles for acceptance as the Paris Olympics loom
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He has won a staggering 24 Grand Slam titles, four more than Roger Federer and two more than Rafael Nadal.
Djokovic has often struggled to win fans round like his rivals, however, despite everything he’s achieved.
And Murray, speaking to CNN, has admitted he feels for the Serb – insisting it’s been ‘difficult’ for his rival at times.
“I think it’s obviously at times been difficult for him because Nadal and Federer before Novak became the best player in the world in terms of titles and everything, the best male player, he’s won the most grand slams and had an unbelievable career that Rafa and Roger were so loved and had a brilliant rivalry,” he said.
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“I think Novak [Djokovic ] has huge support around the world.
“I think at times it has been difficult for him to not feel the same support from the crowd as Rafa and Roger got but he still does have massive support around the world.
“I think he’s extremely well respected not just in tennis, but in in world sports because of all of his achievements.”
Murray does think, however, that Djokovic has sometimes ‘thrived’ in the face of adversity.
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“I think at times he’s thrived on that as well,” continued the former world No 1.
“When the crowd hasn’t been behind him, he’s played some of his best tennis and his best matches when that hasn’t been the case.
“So, in a strange way, it’s maybe helped him achieve more, but I think it’s been hard for him at times.”
Djokovic has won multiple Australian Opens, French Opens, Wimbledons and US Opens throughout his time in tennis.
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Andy Murray will be hoping to win a third Olympic gold medal this summer
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But one honour he’s yet to claim is Olympic gold.
Djokovic could meet Nadal in the second round of the tournament in France, in a clash that would captivate fans from all over the world.
Nadal is no longer as big a force as he once was, with the Spaniard ranked 161st in the world.
But Djokovic feels he remains a top asset to tennis, with the 37-year-old saying: “Obviously he (Nadal) hasn’t played much. His ranking dropped, so there’s always going to be that possibility of me meeting him in an early round, and, there we go.
Andy Murray has lavished praise on Novak Djokovic as the start of the Paris Olympics looms
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“It’s going to be a spectacle definitely if we get to meet, spread some fireworks on the court, like the good old times.
“I hope we get to meet because it will probably be one last dance for the both of us.”