Novak Djokovic called a “traitor.” He left Serbia and chose a “new homeland.”
Novak Djokovic has officially settled his life outside of Serbia. After months of political pressure and media attacks directed against the famous tennis player — including from Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić — the 24-time Grand Slam champion has moved with his family to Greece. He also revealed how life in his “new homeland” is treating him.
Back in September, media outlets reported that “Nole” had moved from Belgrade to Glyfada, a seaside district of Athens. According to the portal Proto Thema, the tennis player enrolled his two children — 11-year-old Stefan and 8-year-old Tara — in a private school.
At the same time, Djokovic faced heavy criticism in Serbia. In media outlets sympathetic to President Vučić’s camp, he was even labeled a “traitor” for publicly supporting student protests demanding new elections and accountability after the collapse of a railway station canopy in Novi Sad, which killed 16 people.
Djokovic first commented on the tragedy in mid-December, about a month and a half after it occurred. Shortly afterward, he dedicated one of his victories to a student who was hit by a car during the demonstrations. On March 15, when around 300,000 people took to the streets of Belgrade to protest Vučić’s government, the tennis star shared photos from the march on Instagram, calling it “historic, wonderful!”
After moving, Djokovic began searching for a training venue and was seen practicing at the Kavouri Tennis Club, located near his new home. According to Greek media, “Nole,” who maintains close ties with the country’s authorities, is considering applying for a so-called golden visa — a residence permit granted in exchange for investment.
Novak Djokovic: We feel welcome here
It’s no surprise, then, that the 38-year-old feels happy in his new place of residence.
“For two months we’ve been trying life in Greece, and everything has been very positive. We feel welcome here — people are very kind and friendly. At the same time, as a family, we feel that we have more time to do things that bring us closer together,” the experienced tennis player emphasized.
“To be honest, it wasn’t something I had planned for a long time. But a lot has happened over the past two years, and both our private and professional decisions have changed. But that’s normal — that’s life,” he added.
“We have two young children, and we’re trying to find the best possible environment for them. That’s the most important thing — how they will grow up, what will be best for their mental, physical, and emotional health. We want to be in a place where we can have more time together as a family, privately,” Djokovic concluded.
This week, Djokovic is competing in Athens at the first edition of the Hellenic Championship, an ATP 250 tournament organized by his family and directed by his youngest brother, Djordje. The event replaces the Serbia Open, which was previously held in Belgrade.
