Novak Djokovic is said to be finalising plans to move his family from his hometown of Belgrade, Serbia, to a new country. The 24-time Grand Slam champion previously sparked rumours that he could be heading to Greece after multiple meetings with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
The Djokovic family now looks set to relocate to Athens, as the world No. 4 has already been spotted at a local tennis club and has found a nearby school for his two children.
According to Tennis24, Djokovic’s two children, Stefan, 10, and Tara, eight, have been enrolled in St. Lawrence College, a private and independent British school, while the family has found a place to live in the Southern Suburbs.
They are already getting accustomed to life in Athens, as Djokovic and Stefan were spotted hitting together on a court at the Kavouri Tennis Club.
The former world No. 1 is now on the hunt for a tennis club that Stefan and Tara can attend, considering either Kavouri or the 91 Athens Riviera.
Djokovic’s move comes amid claims that he has been targeted by the Serbian government after showing support for student-led protests against Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic, which took place last December.
The protests were provoked by the collapse of a railway station in Novi Sad a month earlier, in which 16 people were tragically killed.
Djokovic publicly voiced his support for the protestors on social media last year, writing: “As someone who deeply believes in the power of youth and their desire for a better future, I believe it’s 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.”
The 38-year-old also dedicated one of his match wins at January’s Australian Open to a student who was hit by a car during a protest.
Djokovic has not explicitly spoken out against President Vucic or the Serbian government, but earlier this year, it emerged that he was reportedly hoping to move his family to Greece using a Golden Visa programme, which grants residence to non-EU citizens who make investments in the country.
Speaking about his potential move at Wimbledon earlier this summer, the Olympic champion said: “Obviously, there’s a lot of speculation, but no, at the moment. But who knows what could happen in the future. Yeah, it could happen.” But Djokovic and his family now seem all but ready to settle in Athens.
The ATP 250 event typically held in Belgrade – which is overseen by one of Djokovic’s brothers – has also been relocated to Athens this year. The Hellenic Championship will take place from November 2 to 8, and it’s the only tournament that Djokovic has committed to for the rest of the season.
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