The world has produced its share of legends throughout the centuries.  Men and women from fields such as art, science, music, and sports have made their mark in their respective areas of expertise and earned their place in the annals of history.  Some of these famous people have had the good fortune of being recognized and loved for their genius during their prime, while others go underappreciated when at their peak.  A case could be made that, sadly for Novak Djokovic, he falls into this latter category.

Everyone likely remembers Djokovic's 2011 season.  The Serb put together a 41-match win streak to kick off the year and went an impressive 70-6 for the season as a whole.  In doing so, he caught the attention of fellow players, fans, and analysts alike.  He continued to back up his phenomenal 2011 with some stellar play in the years that followed but was never quite able to replicate his achievements of that magical season.  That is, until now.  Djokovic has been on a tear in 2015, reaching the finals of all four majors and winning three of them.  He has also been stingy at the Masters and with a 73-5 record with just a few more weeks to go, he has already ensured that 2015 will be the best season of his career thus far.  

Yet for all that Djokovic has achieved, he is never talked about in the same light as the likes of Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal.  The crowd at the US Open final was downright disrespectful to the current No. 1 in a way that they would never be to Federer, Nadal, or other past greats such as Bjorn Borg and Rod Laver.  When Djokovic is dominating, it does not inspire the same level of awe as other legends, but instead it is almost taken for granted or as something that others simply have to wait out before his level drops.  The question is, “Why?”

Undoubtedly part of the problem stems from Djokovic's early days as a professional.  On more than one occasion, Djokovic put his foot in his mouth and turned people off with this words and attitude.  He was also prone to retirements in key matches – which were later explained by a breathing issue and food allergy.  Some have speculated his Serbian background may be partially to blame.  Still others have theorized that with much of the tennis world firmly split between Federer and Nadal, no one was ready for Djokovic to come along as the third wheel and break up the party.  

Whatever reason or combination of reasons fans may have for not liking Djokovic, however, there is ample reason to at least show him a little more respect and admiration.  For starters, he has matured greatly since his early days, as evidenced by the diplomatic and professional way he handled the unacceptable treatment he received from the unruly crowd at the US Open final.  He is quite comfortable in his position as the top player on the men's tour and has become a tremendous ambassador for the sport.  Furthermore, with his win last month in New York, he secured his 10th major singles title, and there are a number of accomplished greats who never reached double digits.  The fact that Djokovic has been able to do that in an era that included fellow legends Federer and Nadal also speaks to the level of his efforts to pull off such a feat.  Also, while the contrast in styles might not be as stark, there is no question that Djokovic's individual rivalries with Federer and Nadal are more competitive and arguably more exciting than the rivalry between the Swiss and the Spaniard.  In short, Djokovic brings a lot of positives to the table with his game and mental toughness.

Of course, while Djokovic adds a lot to the sport, that is no guarantee that fans have to or even will take to him the way they have to his contemporaries Federer and Nadal.  He lacks the smooth elegance of the Swiss and the humble reputation of the Spaniard.  But Djokovic has evolved into a spectacular player in his own right.  Unfortunately for him, he probably will not be truly appreciated until he is a veteran with his glory days well behind him, but as evidenced by what he has shown everyone in 2015, he is deserving of that level of love and admiration sooner rather than later.