Last year, Novak Djokovic relocated to Athens, Greece, with his family after a political fallout in Serbia. The veteran pro had engaged in a heated standoff with figures close to then Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic.
Djokovic was branded a traitor for extending his support to the student-led protests against corruption, triggered by the deaths of 16 people in a railway station canopy collapse in Novi Sad in 2024. On Sunday, Serbia’s longtime nationalist strongman, Vucic, succumbed to defeat in general elections to the student-led opposition.
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The two years of relentless student protests weakened Vucic’s grip on power. His defeat sparked jubilation in Belgrade, Serbia’s capital. With a political transition now underway in Serbia, journalist Ben Rothenberg wondered whether Djokovic would return to his homeland.
“Djokovic was on the right side of this divide in Serbia, at least in the short term. Will he return from his exile in Greece?” Rothenberg wrote on X.
While United Serbia named Vucic as its Prime Minister candidate, the Student List refrained from making such an announcement. Ilija Srdanovic, a professor at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Novi Sad, led their campaign and appears to be the most likely candidate as Serbia’s new Prime Minister.
Novak Djokovic breaks silence about uprooting family from Serbia
After moving to Athens, Novak Djokovic also brought the ATP 250 event organized by his family from Belgrade to his new “home.” In November 2025, the 24-time Grand Slam champion notched his first win in Greece at the Hellenic Championship, formerly known as the Belgrade Open.
Overcome with emotion, he shared that Athens felt like home and reflected on his longstanding affection for Greece. Reflecting on the transition, Djokovic noted how the warm reception from the locals had deeply touched his heart.
“It feels really at home, playing in Athens. A few months ago when I came here with my family, I was very excited because I have always loved Greece. Serbians love Greece, for sure. Historically, culturally and religiously, we have a lot of things connecting us,” Novak Djokovic said.
“It was amazing to experience the great hospitality of the Greek people. More than the recognition for my tennis achievement, I feel people have approached me in the most friendly and humane way and that is something that has touched my heart. Athens is in my heart,” he added.
At that time, reports claimed that Djokovic’s children, Stefan and Tara, had enrolled in a private British school in Athens. On the tennis front, Novak Djokovic is on the cusp of beginning his campaign against Ugo Humbert in Basel on Wednesday.
Edited by Pritha Ghosh
