"A fake patriot, who has presented himself as a symbol of Serbia for years, is now fleeing to Greece," Express quoted Informer, a Serbian newspaper that also called Djokovic a disgrace to the country, on 20/8.
The smear campaign against Djokovic has intensified in Serbian media recently, a stark contrast to the praise he typically receives from his homeland's press throughout his illustrious tennis career. According to journalist Jaschar Dugalic of Neue Zurcher Zeitung, the Serbian government appears to be targeting Djokovic, attacking his reputation through friendly media channels, despite Djokovic not directly criticizing the government.
Tensions escalated earlier this month when Djokovic moved the ATP 250 Belgrade Open from his home country to Greece. The tournament has been relocated to the OAKA Arena in Athens, renamed the Hellenic Championship, and will commence on 2/11. This move stems from disagreements between Djokovic and the Serbian government, particularly President Aleksandar Vucic, regarding certain policies and upcoming legislation.
Just 12 months ago, Djokovic was welcomed as a hero upon returning to Serbia after winning his first Olympic gold medal at the 2024 Olympics. At the time, the government announced plans to build a museum in his honor.
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Djokovic carries the Serbian flag while celebrating his first Olympic gold medal at Philippe Chatrier court, Paris, France, last August. Photo: Reuters |
Djokovic carries the Serbian flag while celebrating his first Olympic gold medal at Philippe Chatrier court, Paris, France, last August. Photo: Reuters
However, the relationship between Djokovic and Serbia deteriorated after he publicly supported student protests and groups opposing Vucic. In 3/2025, Djokovic posted a photo from a protest with an estimated 300,000 people, captioning it: "History, incredible." These protests were in response to the government's handling of a train station roof collapse in Novi Sad that killed 16 people. The protests spread to 400 cities and continued into early 2025.
When Djokovic celebrated a victory at Wimbledon 2025 with a small dance, it was interpreted as a reference to the "Pump" slogan used in student protests. The 24-time Grand Slam winner denied this in a post-match press conference, stating it was a dance to the upbeat song 'Pump It Up' for his children.
The Serbian media has not only targeted Djokovic but also his father, Srdjan. According to Dugalic, a pro-government businessman circulated a video suggesting Srdjan Djokovic had connections with an alleged child molester.
In contrast to his strained relationship with the Serbian president, Djokovic has recently shown affection for Greece, dining with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and searching for a home in the northern suburbs of Athens. Greek media also report that Djokovic and his wife, Jelena, are looking at schools in the area for their two children, Stefan and Tara.
These decisions are also seen as preparations for Djokovic's post-retirement life. After Wimbledon, he withdrew from both the Canadian Open and Cincinnati Open, two consecutive Masters 1000 tournaments. He is currently ranked 7th in the world and will return to competition at the US Open, starting on 24/8.
Vy Anh
