The biggest name in men’s tennis, Novak Djokovic, is again in the headlines, despite not playing a single tour-level match in over two weeks. After his breathtaking fourth-round match against Jack Draper in Indian Wells, he withdrew from the Miami Open, where he was the runner-up last year.
Now, just days before the clay-court swing kicks off with the Monte-Carlo Masters in April, the Serbian legend has withdrawn from the ATP Masters 1000 event after being sighted in Belgrade, Serbia.
Novak Djokovic Enjoys Time in Belgrade Following Monte Carlo Withdrawal
Djokovic is widely considered the greatest tennis player of all time, having effectively “completed” the sport by winning every major title over a career spanning more than two decades. Wherever he goes, there’s a horde of fans following him, eager for just a glimpse of the legend. But when it comes to a place that has a special place in his heart, we have a clear winner: Belgrade, Serbia.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion was born in Belgrade and spent most of his life in the Serbian city. He then moved to Novi Sad, where he joined a tennis camp that changed his life. Recently, he was spotted on the streets of Belgrade, enjoying his time with local musicians and at other well-known venues.
A video going viral on social media captured Djokovic walking down the middle of a street with two local street musicians, singing songs and enjoying his night in an all-white suit. He sang his heart out to a local song that translates to “This is my home, I lived here,” showing his love for the city where he was born, even though he had moved to Athens.
Iako je Atina poslednjih meseci postala njegova nova porodična baza, ovi kadrovi su jasno pokazali gde kuca srce najboljeg svih vremena. Kako pesma i sam Đoković kazuju: ,,Ovo je moja kuća, živeo sam tu”. Ovi kadrovi još jednom potvrđuju neraskidivu vezu Đokovića i Beograda. pic.twitter.com/Hk2nUrQlil
— Naš Portal (@nas_portal) March 27, 2026
Another video shows Djokovic at the Lafayette Cuisine Cabaret Club, a well-known venue in the city, where Greek superstar Konstantinos Argiros was performing live. He was seen dancing and enjoying himself at the club, with the singer even giving him a shout-out from the stage during his performance.
Novak Đoković posle dužeg vremena u Beogradu na koncertu grčke zvezde i velikog prijatelja Konstantina Argirosa. pic.twitter.com/1POci2IPhZ
— Naš Portal (@nas_portal) March 27, 2026
Amid these celebrations, there is heartbreaking news for all Djokovic fans: the Serbian has withdrawn from the Monte-Carlo Masters, scheduled to commence on April 5. He last stepped foot on court at Indian Wells against the defending champion Draper, suffering a 6-4, 4-6, 6-7(5) defeat.
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Last year, the Serbian legend exited the Monte-Carlo Masters in the second round against Alejandro Tabilo 3-6, 4-6. He has lifted the title twice at this venue, defeating the eight-time defending champion, Rafael Nadal, in 2013 and Tomáš Berdych in 2015 to win the first three Masters 1000 titles of the year.
It will be interesting to see when the Serbian legend returns to the ATP Tour and how he performs, given his recent break.
