Novak Djokovic tried to distance himself from his father Srdjan’s negative comments about Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
"Federer is perhaps still the best tennis player in history, but as a man he's the opposite," Srdjan told the newspaper Kurir recently. "He attacked Novak at the Davis Cup in Geneva (in 2006), he realized that he was his successor and was trying to disparage him in every way. Novak's success is an amazing thing and something that Federer cannot understand."
Srdjan said also said that his son's relationship with Rafael Nadal has changed for the worse.
"[Nadal] was his best friend while he was winning. When things changed, they were no longer friends," Srdjan said. "This is not sport."
Federer would not speak to the issue when asked about it in Cincinnati. However, Novak Djokovic was apologetic while at the Montreal Masters.
“I’m really sorry that his words have caused so much attention, and also that they might have hurt my colleagues in some way, and with whom I have good and fair relationships,” he told reporters. "But as unfortunate as it sounds, I cannot be held responsible for his deeds and for his words because everybody is entitled to their opinion, even my father, and I love him so much, and respect him. He’s helped me so much in my life to arrive where I am but sometimes, you know, people come up with their opinions as they like and me, I have to say that I didn’t have any influence on that. And as I said, I cannot be responsible for it.”