At the beginning of 2025, Novak Djokovic officially moved with his family from Serbia to Athens. According to the Daily Express, the legendary tennis player obtained a Greek Golden Visa, which allows a five-year stay in the country as well as free travel within the Schengen area. What he plans to do is truly breathtaking.
Djokovic can travel freely around the Schengen zone and enjoy other privileges. However, there is one issue. All of this requires a significant investment — a minimum of £350,000, and in the most attractive regions even £705,000. Djokovic, however, opted for a much larger expense: as much as £17.5 million, or about €20 million.
The Serbian star has allocated this enormous sum to create an exclusive tennis club in the town of Elliniko, south of Athens. The investment is expected to include more than 20 courts: tennis, padel, and pickleball, as well as a full sports complex with training and recreational facilities. The venue has the potential to become one of the most prestigious places for tennis players in all of Greece.
Patrick Mouratoglou and relatives of Maria Sakkari were also involved in the project, but it was the negotiations between Djokovic and his brother Djordje with the developer Lamda Development that advanced the furthest. The brothers also recently met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to discuss the development of tennis in the country. There is also a possibility that Djokovic’s future tennis academy will be built in Elliniko.
Novak Djokovic and his first title in Athens
Djokovic has already made his mark on Greek sport. He recently triumphed in the ATP 250 Hellenic Championship, organized by his brother. In the final, he defeated Lorenzo Musetti 4–6, 6–3, 7–5, claiming the 101st title of his career. After the victory, he emphasized that he and his family feel “fantastically welcomed” in Athens.
Djokovic’s plans could have a real impact on the development of tennis in Greece — a country that in recent years has produced world-class players such as Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari.
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