A mural of tennis superstar Novak Djokovic in Belgrade has been defaced with paint, marking the latest incident following his relocation to Greece with his family. The vandalism occurred weeks after Djokovic moved his children to Athens to attend a British international school. This event follows Djokovic’s public support for student-led protests against Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, which drew criticism from pro-government media.
Key Takeaways
- A mural of Novak Djokovic in Belgrade was vandalized with paint.
- Djokovic and his family recently relocated to Athens, Greece.
- The incident is linked to Djokovic’s public support for anti-government protests in Serbia.
- The artist responsible for the mural vowed retribution.
Mural Defaced Amid Political Fallout
The artwork, created by Serbian street artist Andrej Josifovski, depicted Djokovic in his Wimbledon attire. Josifovski discovered the damage and expressed his anger on social media, blaming "Serbian youth from the cage" and vowing that "retaliation is coming." This is not the first time artwork featuring Djokovic has been targeted; a mural in Kosovo was vandalized twice in 2023.
Djokovic’s Move to Greece
Djokovic, his wife Jelena, and their children, Stefan (11) and Tara (8), have settled in Athens. The children are attending Saint Lawrence College, a British independent school. Djokovic has reportedly met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and is considering membership at local tennis clubs, with speculation about obtaining a Greek Golden Visa.
Stance on Protests
The tensions escalated after Djokovic publicly backed student demonstrations that arose from the collapse of a railway station canopy in Novi Sad, which claimed 16 lives. Students blamed alleged government corruption for the tragedy. Djokovic shared his support on social media, stating, "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." He also wore a jumper with the message "students are champions" at a basketball game.
Government Reaction
Djokovic’s stance drew criticism from media outlets aligned with President Vucic’s government, which branded him a "false patriot" and accused him of backing a "colour revolution." Despite the criticism, President Vucic has attempted to de-escalate the situation, stating he would never speak ill of Djokovic.
Sources
- Novak Djokovic mural defaced after tennis star and family forced to flee native Serbia, GB News.
- "Don’t worry my brother, retaliation is coming", Tennisuptodate.com.
- Novak Djokovic enrols children in Greek private school as he ‘flees Serbia after being targeted by the
government for backing student protests’, Daily Mail.
