Novak Djokovic attacked with smear campaign as Serbian government ‘set its sights’ on tennis player: Report

Former world No.1 tennis player Novak Djokovic reportedly wanted to move his family to Athens in Greece after being targeted by the media back home in Serbia. The 24-time Grand Slam winner Djokovic was forced into thinking about leaving his country after the Serbian government “set its sights” on the tennis great as a result of his throwing his support behind the student-led protests against president Aleksandar Vucic and his government.

The mass protests began in November 2024 in Novi Sad after the collapse of a canopy at a railway station killed 16 people. The protestors accused Serbian police and local authorities of corruption. The protests that began in Serbia’s second-largest city reached 400 cities by March this year, as per reports, and continue to be staged to date.

Djokovic wants to move family to Greece

The 38-year-old Djokovic showed support for the protests in December 2024 with a powerful message on the social media website X. “As someone who deeply believes in the power of young people and their desire for a better future, I consider it important that their voice is heard,” Djokovic wrote on X on 19 December.

“Serbia has enormous potential, and educated youth is its greatest strength. What we all need is understanding and respect. With you, Novak.”

Као неко ко дубоко верује у снагу младих људи и њихову жељу за бољом будућношћу,сматрам да је важно да се њихов глас чује.

Србија има огроман потенцијал а образована омладина је њена највећа снага.

Оно што је свима нама потребно је разумевање и поштовање. Уз вас,Новак.

— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) December 18, 2024

In January, he also condemned action against protestors.

However, the Serbian government is unhappy with Djokovic since his social media post, as per journalist Jaschar Dugalic, who reported the news for German news outlet Neue Zurcher Zeitung. Also, the “regime-friendly media” has started a smear campaign against Djokovic and his family in Serbia.

Serbian newspaper Informer called Djokovic a “disgrace” after he showed support to the protests, and later, after news emerged that the tennis player wants to move to Greece, it labelled him “a false patriot who had presented himself as a symbol of Serbia for years only to now flee to Greece.”

The anger grew in Serbian media as Djokovic celebrated his victories at Wimbledon 2025 with a pumping dance move. This has been seen as a reference to the “Pump” student protest slogan.

However, Djokovic refuted those claims during the tournament. “As I mentioned to the Serbian journalists, it’s something between me and my children,” he said.

“We have a song, it’s called ‘Pump It Up’. I don’t know how many of you guys know that. It’s quite an old song. Good rhythm.”