Novak Djokovic, the renowned tennis icon, has faced mixed reactions in Greece, where he now resides. The Serbian athlete, who recently moved his family to Greece, made this surprising decision despite his strong ties to Belgrade, his hometown. Aside from his tennis prowess, Djokovic is a fervent basketball enthusiast, often seen supporting Serbian clubs like Red Star and Partizan.
During a recent Euroleague basketball game between Panathinaikos and Maccabi, Djokovic’s presence at the match did not go unnoticed by the local fans. Despite neither of his supported teams playing, the Serbian celebrity and his son, Stefan, were shown on the big screen, triggering boos from the crowd at the Telekom Center.
Although it’s unclear how many of the 18,500 spectators participated in the jeering, the incident was captured by TV cameras. Djokovic appeared unfazed by the reaction, remaining focused on his phone, while his son acknowledged the crowd with a peace sign.
Following the Panathinaikos game, Djokovic attended another basketball match where he received a warmer reception. The crowd cheered for him as he watched Olympiacos face off against Monaco at the Peace and Friendship Stadium. Meanwhile, Panathinaikos emerged victorious against Maccabi, maintaining a close position to Red Star in the rankings.
Despite his basketball outings, Djokovic is gearing up for the ATP Finals in Turin, where he qualified last month amidst concerns about his form and fitness. The tennis star will compete against top players like Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, and Taylor Fritz in the upcoming tournament. Anticipated to receive a much friendlier reception in Turin, Djokovic is set to face a challenging lineup for the ATP title.