Paris (AFP)

Since a childhood under the bombs of NATO in Serbia, Novak Djokovic, tested positive on Tuesday for the coronavirus, has traveled a long road which led him to the summits of tennis and the records in Grand Slam, but not towards the hearts of the General public.

At 33, the world N.1 would be enough to fill: 17 major titles since Australia-2008 (three lengths from Roger Federer's record which is five years older), $ 143 million raised in tournaments only , a wife, a son, a daughter ...

But it lacks, and it suffers, the recognition of the public which is divided into two camps: the pro-Federer and the pro-Nadal. Even with his fellow players he is divisive.

Some people find that he lacks spontaneity, that his attitudes are forced, affected. Like his theatrical way of paying homage to basketball star Kobe Bryant, who died in a helicopter accident in late January, in the middle of the Australian Open. "He was my mentor, my friend and my heart broke when he learned what had happened to him and his daughter," said the Serbian before stopping, stifled by emotion. He sported the initials K and B on his tracksuit jacket, as well as the numbers 8 and 24 that Bryant had worn in the Lakers, and a small pink heart.

Its preparation methods are also sometimes talked about. In addition to a gluten-free diet that has become commonplace, he made a lot more talk last year at the US Open where he would have used an oxygen tank to facilitate recovery. Not to mention his funny mental coach who claims to purify water by thought ...

- The Adria tour fiasco -

In terms of tennis, 2020 had started very well, before the circuit was frozen due to coronavirus in March: an 8th record title at the Australian Open and a series of 18 victories in as many matches.

But since then, in the space of three months, his image has taken a hit. And he held out the stick to get beaten.

To begin with, he was criticized for breaking the confinement rules in order to train in Spain. He had rented a huge villa with tennis court there and revealed after the deconfinement that he trained every day ... unlike his opponents.

In the heart of the Covid-19 pandemic, he also reaffirmed his opposition to vaccination.

His position on the conditions for holding the US Open (August 31-September 13) was also badly received. He described them as "extreme" and "impossible", in particular because he could not envisage being accompanied on the courts by a single coach instead of a whole suite. Conditions have since been slightly relaxed.

Although he is president of the Players' Council, he also did not participate in a video conference organized by ATP to discuss the conditions for resuming the circuit and the new calendar.

And icing on the cake, this fiasco of the Adria Tour, organized as a big party with tennis and unrestrained fiestas in the Balkans. Not only him but also Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki tested positive for the new coronavirus, while Alexander Zverev, Andrey Rublev and Marin Cilic escaped the Covid-19. Dominic Thiem had left earlier to join Nice and play a competition with three other members of the World Top 10: Stefanos Tsitsipas, Matteo Berrettini and David Goffin.

- Records in sight -

His conduct raises questions, however, not his determination.

At the age of seven, little Nole already said on Serbian television that he wanted to become world No.1.

In 2018, hampered by persistent pain in an elbow following an operation, he was eliminated in the quarter-finals Roland-Garros by the 72nd world Marco Cecchinato. Leaving the Top20 for the first time in 12 years, he hesitates to play Wimbledon. But he went there, won the title for the 4th time and continued his momentum by postponing the US Open then the Australian Open 2019.

In 2019 again, he spreads two match balls in the final against Federer to clinch his 5th Wimbledon. Today, he does not hide his two main objectives: the record for major titles and weeks spent at the top of the world pyramid (it is 282, behind 286 by Pete Sampras and 310 by Federer).

© 2020 AFP