"Grudging respect" means having a reluctant or unwilling acknowledgment or admiration for someone or something, even though you may not necessarily like them or fully approve of them. Full definition
He does, of course, deserve a certain amount of grudging respect for this process of continually relevant reinvention. (sbnation.com)
It's a completely original kind of lifeless British movie, which makes it worthy of grudging respect and mild amazement. (sfchronicle.com)
Once the wise - cracking Roy is assigned former rising - star detective Nick Walker (Reynolds) as his junior officer, the new partners have to turn grudging respect into top - notch teamwork. (bloody-disgusting.com)