Djokovic: Relocation, Rivalry, and Retirement Rumors

Novak Djokovic BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.

Novak Djokovic’s life over the past few days reads like the next chapter in an already remarkable biography. The world is talking about his significant decision to relocate his family to Athens, breaking with Belgrade amid rising tensions in Serbia. The move comes after Djokovic publicly supported student protests in Serbia last winter—protests launched after a tragic railway collapse in Novi Sad, which led to sharp backlash from pro-government Serbian media. Social media was aflame as he wrote, in Serbian, about the power and value of youth, standing by student demonstrators, then dedicating an Australian Open win to a protester and famously wearing a ‘students are champions’ jumper at a Belgrade basketball game. Serbian tabloids branded him a “false patriot” and accused him of stoking unrest, an extraordinary shift for a man long revered as a national hero according to Greek City Times.

Now he’s a new resident of Athens’ southern suburbs, his children enrolled at Saint Lawrence College, one of the city’s most exclusive private schools. Neighbors spotted him at the Kavouri Tennis Club in flip-flops with son Stefan and he’s rumored to be eyeing Greek citizenship through their Golden Visa program. His new home base and regular sightings have kept Twitter and Threads busy as fans speculate on the next chapter of his life.

This domestic shift has real career implications. According to Tennis365, with the Grand Slam season closed—Djokovic reached the semifinals of all four majors this year, a feat only rivaled by Jannik Sinner—his immediate playing schedule is trimmed. He’s not on the Shanghai Masters poster, prompting speculation he’ll skip that event, but he’s committed to play at the ATP 250 Hellenic Championship in Athens in November. It’s the first time the tournament’s ATP license has moved from Belgrade, making it a symbolic and likely emotional “home” event. Djokovic is also set for a high-profile exhibition, the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh this October.

Meanwhile, the tennis world is debating his future. After his defeat to Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open semifinals—where, as described on YouTube’s official US Open channel, he looked “slow to me” and just a step behind the new generation—Boris Becker, his former coach, noted on his podcast that Djokovic finally admitted matching Alcaraz and Sinner’s energy is becoming near impossible at 38. Becker went as far as to hint that 2026 might be Djokovic’s final Grand Slam season, especially since, as Becker said, he likely plays for major titles, not for smaller tournament glory. Djokovic’s own comments echo this, as he wonders aloud about how much longer he’ll compete at the top, and whether defending his Olympic gold in 2028 is realistic.

Social media spun briefly when, as reported by Threads’ tennistnews account, Djokovic stirred controversy by suggesting Carlos Alcaraz’s latest US Open win was helped by ‘luck and bias’—a sign that even off the court, Djokovic remains at the center of headline-making drama.

In summary, Novak Djokovic’s recent pivot from Serbian icon to Athenian resident, his focus on family, battles with an ever-younger tennis elite, and ongoing headline-grabbing controversy ensure his biography continues to write itself in real time—with every move scrutinized, debated, and destined for the history books.

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