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Djokovic's new home: Serbian Legend moves to Greece following backlash over student protests
Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Novak Djokovic has officially changed his residence to Greece with his wife and children after facing harsh criticism in his home country for his support of student protests in Serbia. The former world No. 1 has made several changes in the latter part of his career, adjusting his schedule and prioritizing family life.

There had been speculation for months about a possible move for Djokovic from Belgrade to Greece, following a controversy over the sociopolitical situation in his country. From November to December 2024, a series of student protests erupted in Serbia. These culminated in the deaths of 16 people in December when the concrete awning of the Novi Sad train station collapsed, causing outrage across the country.

The former world No. 1 took to social media to express his opinion, showing support for the university-led protests that were taking place throughout the country. Djokovic criticized the government's reaction and expressed his support for the demonstrators, also condemning the violence against them.

"As someone who deeply believes in the power of young people and their desire for a better future, I believe it is important that their voice be heard," he posted on his X account. "Serbia has enormous potential, and educated youth is its greatest strength. What we all need is understanding and respect. With you, Novak.”

Following Djokovic's statements on social media, the relationship between the tennis player and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic drastically deteriorated. The Serbian president labeled the protests as a "revolution orchestrated by foreign agents," and some pro-government media outlets accused Djokovic of being a "false patriot."

While Nole was participating in Wimbledon, one of his celebrations included the "Pump It Up" dance, which has been used in Serbia as a symbol of maintaining pressure on the government and as a protest slogan. When asked about it, the world No. 7 claimed it was just a nod to his children, who like the song, and denied it had any political meaning.

Djokovic finds a new home in Greece After 

Novak Djokovic recently competed at the US Open, where he had a great run to the semifinals. Unfortunately for the 38-year-old star, his journey ended there, as he was defeated by Carlos Alcaraz, once again falling one match short of the final. For the fourth consecutive time, the Serb was eliminated in the semifinals of a Grand Slam, just on the cusp of the final.

Nole is still in search of his 25th Grand Slam title, but he was once again left disappointed, trailing behind the current leaders of the Tour: Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. Following his exit from the New York tournament, Djokovic traveled to Athens on Sunday, September 7, where he began his new permanent life according to Proto Thema.

Throughout the summer, Novak and his wife, Jelena, were seen looking for a new home and a school for their children. They also met with the Greek Prime Minister to discuss the possibility of a "Golden Visa," which is granted for significant investments in the country.

After his search, he decided to settle in the southern suburbs. His new home is in Glyfada, and a private school for his son Stefan and daughter Tara is also located in the south.

Djokovic is also looking for an academy to run in Athens, while for his own training, the Tatoi Club seems to be his preferred choice. Additionally, Djokovic has been announced to play in the Oaka ATP 250, a tournament that was previously the Belgrade Open—organized by the Djokovic family—and will now be held in Greece. This tournament, played in the first week of November, will feature Nole and Stefanos Tsitsipas as its main stars.

This article first appeared on TennisUpToDate.com and was syndicated with permission.

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