Novak: Vucic breaks silence after Djokovic leaves Serbia amid political storm
President Aleksandar Vucic has delivered a blunt message to Novak Djokovic after the tennis star left Serbia amid a smear campaign tied to his political stance. The Belgrade-born champion relocated to Athens in September with his wife, Jelena, and their children, Stefan and Tara; novak had publicly backed student-led protests in December 2024.
Move to Athens: family, exile and an unstated motive
Djokovic, described in the context as Serbia’s biggest national icon, relocated to Greece’s capital, Athens, in September last year with his wife Jelena and their two children, Stefan and Tara. He has not explicitly stated the reason for the move, though it is believed to be related to him being at odds with the Serbian government; another account framed the move as exile, saying he settled in Athens with his family after facing domestic pressure.
Student protests, Novi Sad canopy collapse and nationwide unrest
In December 2024 Djokovic expressed support for student-led protests against President Aleksandar Vucic and the government as a whole. The demonstrations followed the collapse of a railway station canopy in Novi Sad the previous month, which killed 16 people and prompted accusations from demonstrators that Serbian police and local authorities had shown negligence and corruption. By March 2025 the protests had spread to 400 cities and towns.
Smear campaign and media attacks described by a journalist
Jaschar Dugalic, a journalist for Neue Zurcher Zeitung, said the Serbian government "set its sights" on Djokovic after his stance. Dugalic added that regime-friendly media in Serbia attacked Djokovic’s character: the tabloid Informer branded him a "disgrace, " and after reports that Djokovic was considering moving to Athens the same outlet labelled him "a false patriot who had presented himself as a symbol of Serbia for years only to now flee to Greece. " Dugalic also said an entrepreneur and opponent of the protests published a video linking Djokovic’s father to an alleged paedophile.
Vucic’s public remarks and the Australian Open context
Speaking on TV Pink, Vucic congratulated Djokovic on his Australian Open run and offered supportive words: "I wholeheartedly support Djokovic and all the people who wear the Serbian tricolour, and [I am] looking forward to his success, " he said (translated). Vucic added: "[He showed] something incredible in those years [in his win against Jannik Sinner]. [He is] the greatest of this time in a difficult and demanding sport. It is much more than a congratulatory message, he represents his country with dignity and makes it popular. Regardless of the result of the final, I support him. "
Vucic then delivered a sharper conclusion: "I told him what I thought... I will not change my convictions under the influence of any sports, theater, or entertainment star. " The remarks came during Djokovic’s run at the 2026 edition of the Melbourne major last month, when the 38-year-old became the oldest player to reach an Australian Open final. The 24-time Grand Slam champion downed Jannik Sinner in an epic five-set semi-final before falling in four sets to world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz in the title match.
How the campaign touched Djokovic’s public standing
The combination of Djokovic’s December 2024 public support for students, the deadly Novi Sad incident and sustained media attacks created a political storm that critics say targeted the former world number one. Elements of the smear campaign included attacks on his patriotism and personal character, and culminated in heated public debate over his decision to leave Serbia and settle in Athens.
