Roger Federer 'wasn't convinced by Novak Djokovic' as Swiss opens up on first thoughts

Roger Federer has given a new insight into his rivalry with Novak Djokovic, admitting that he initially didn’t respect the 24-time Grand Slam champion enough at the beginning of his career.

The Swiss star opened up on his first impressions of a young Djokovic - who he wasn’t convinced by - in a new documentary chronicling the days around his retirement from tennis.

Federer was joined by Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray on the same team at the Laver Cup for his emotional farewell in London’s O2 Arena two years ago.

At the time, Federer hired a team of filmmakers to document the end of his career as a home movie that was never intended to be seen. But he later decided to release it as a documentary, Twelve Final Days, which will drop on Prime Video on Monday.

As well as his own retirement, the 20-time Grand Slam champion addressed his greatest rivals, who appeared by his side at the Laver Cup for his last dance. And Federer gave his initial impressions of Djokovic, who he first faced and beat at the 2006 Monte Carlo Masters.

“I played him in Monaco the very first time and I walked off the court and thought, ‘Yeah, he’s okay,’” the 42-year-old recalled. Although Djokovic was a promising young player, Federer confessed that he didn’t buy into the hype or respect his new rival as much as he should have.

He added: “Even though there was some hype around him, I wasn’t really fully convinced. I think I didn’t give Novak the respect he deserved because of his technical flaws.

“I felt like Novak had a very extreme forehand grip and his backhand for me wasn’t as fluid as it is nowadays. But then he ironed those things out super well and became an unbelievable monster of a player.”