Novak Djokovic’s honesty and willingness to stick to his beliefs have won him tons of fans around the world. But being so open about his views might have just cost Serbian tennis fans their biggest tournament.
The Serbia Open was the only ATP event held in the country. It was supposed to happen November 2nd to 8th this year, just a week before the big ATP Finals.
That timing would’ve been huge for players trying to qualify for those year-end finals.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novak Djokovic | 38 | 8,360 | 18 - 6 |
But now there’s a problem. Djokovic didn’t even play in the 2024 Serbia Open or ATP Finals after taking a long break. He came back for the 2025 Australian Open, made it to the semifinals, then retired with an injury.
The Tournament Takes a Surprising Turn
Here’s where it gets interesting. Djokovic’s family actually runs the Serbia Open. Denis Shapovalov won it last year when it was held in Belgrade.
The family wanted to keep the 2025 edition in Belgrade again. But guess what? An announcement just revealed the tournament is now moving to Athens instead.
"ATP 250 Hellenic Championship is organised by the experienced team behind nine previous international tournaments in Belgrade," the announcement read. "This latest project builds on that legacy, with preparations well underway to deliver a world-class event in the historic city of Athens."
So what’s really going on here?
Political Tensions Behind the Scenes
Nobody from the tournament has given an official reason for the move. But rumors are flying in Serbian media that Djokovic’s views on the country’s government played a big role in this decision.
Since November 2024, protests have been happening across Serbia. Most of the protesters are young people speaking out against the government and President Aleksandar Vucic.
The government’s response has been pretty controversial. Many people think it’s been way too harsh and is trying to shut down free speech.
Djokovic didn’t stay quiet about this. In January, the 24-time Grand Slam champion made his feelings crystal clear. He condemned what he called "violence" against the protesters and praised them for standing up to the government.
That had to sting. When your country’s biggest sports hero criticizes you publicly, that’s a significant blow.
But if recent reports from Serbia are right, the tension between Djokovic and the government might run even deeper than we thought.
Some sources are saying Djokovic’s family moved the tournament to Athens specifically because of the tennis legend’s rocky relationship with his home country’s government. If that turns out to be true, it could make public opinion of the government even worse.
How Things Used to Be Different
This is a pretty dramatic change from how things used to be between Djokovic and President Vucic.
Remember when Djokovic was detained and deported from Australia back in January 2022? That was a mess. But during that whole ordeal, Djokovic actually thanked President Vucic for being supportive and making sure he didn’t feel alone.
Those warm relations seem like ancient history now.
These days, the Serbian government views Djokovic pretty differently. One minister even attacked the seven-time Australian Open winner for paying taxes in Monaco and accused him of siding with people who want Kosovo to be independent.
"You have Novak Djokovic’s statement," the minister said. "Without doubt, he is a fantastic athlete, but also a taxpayer of Monaco. His family is from Kosovo, he won Wimbledon, and deals with ‘pomp’ and explains why he did this."
The minister didn’t stop there:
"First, he hides behind the children, which I think is very ugly. Secondly, he sides with those who commit violence in this country and supports those who want an independent Kosovo."
Pretty harsh words for someone who used to be considered a national hero.
This whole situation shows how complicated it can get when athletes speak out on political issues. Djokovic’s always been known for being authentic and speaking his mind. But sometimes that authenticity comes with a cost – and this time, it might be Serbian tennis fans who end up paying the price.
