A mural of tennis legend Novak Djokovic has recently been defaced in the capital of Serbia, Belgrade, after he shifted to Athens, Greece, with his family and expressed his support for student protests. The winner of 100 ATP Tour singles titles was seen in action at the 2025 Shanghai Masters and the 6 Kings Slam, the exhibition tournament that took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Mural of Tennis Icon Novak Djokovic Faces Destruction in Hometown
The 38-year-old legend had attracted ire from his homeland after relocating to Athens, Greece. The mural depicted Novak Djokovic in his Wimbledon Championships attire and was destroyed by being covered in black.
The Serbian street artist who created the mural, Andrej Josifovski, has shared his thoughts after his piece faced destruction. He expressed his views via his recent Instagram post.
“Imagine that great patriot in an orange jacket and a cap, sneaking around at night, then stopping in front of Novak (YES, NOVAK!) – looking him in the eyes and throwing paint on his face and body.”
He continued,
“That’s the fine Serbian youth from the cage who just want to learn how to paint graffiti. We conquered the peak of the bottom long ago, but now we’re heading into the stratosphere. Don’t worry, my brother @djokernole, retaliation is coming – but without a mask, in broad daylight, the way we do it.”
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Djokovic impressively ended his Shanghai Masters and US Open tournament run with a semifinal loss to eventual champions Valentin Vacherot and Carlos Alcaraz.
Novak Djokovic Garners Ire for Supporting Student Protests in Serbia
Novak Djokovic left his country to settle in Athens, Greece, following scrutiny from Serbian media outlets that support President Aleksandar Vucic. This happened due to his support for students’ protests following a railway station canopy accident in Novi Sad, which killed 16 people in Nov. 2024.
On Nov. 1, 2024, the concrete canopy of the main railway station in Novi Sad fell on the pavement below, due to which many lives were lost and one individual was gravely injured. The accident gave birth to massive protests in Novi Sad and eventually the entire country, with the government being held accountable for corruption and media censorship.
While supporting the students’ protests, Djokovic had shared (via Tennis Up To Date),
“As someone who deeply believes in the power of youth and their desire for a better future, I believe it is important that their voices are heard. Serbia has enormous potential, and its educated youth is its greatest strength. What we all need is understanding and respect. With you, Novak.”
Novak Djokovic has settled in Glyfada, a coastal district south of Athens, with his children, son Stefan, 11, and daughter Tara, 8, who are attending Saint Lawrence College, a British independent school.
