Being from Serbia, his people, the Serbians, must be proud of him… well, it seems they were until Novak Djokovic supported the students. What? Confused? Well, yes. That simple act:  standing with students protesting after a deadly railway accident turned the country’s hero into a target. Not long ago, Djokovic was everywhere in Serbia. Murals, posters, headlines, and his name carried pride and hope. But for him, being honest came at a cost!

Earlier this year, a beautiful mural of Novak Djokovic appeared in Belgrade, painted by Andrej Josifovski, a Serbian architect and street artist known as “Pijanista.” It showed Djokovic in a memorable gesture from the 2024 Wimbledon final, with the caption: “Pumpaj, pumpaj! Zašto si stao?” (“Pump it, pump it! Why did you stop?”)  Well, that mural had become a symbol of pride until someone covered it in black paint, erasing much of the image. What? Yes, that mural has been vandalized. Josifovski recently posted pictures of the painted-over wall on social media.

He captioned it, “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. 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.” He further added, “Don’t worry, my brother @djokernole, retaliation is coming – but without a mask, in broad daylight, the way we do it,” signaling a firm stand against the act of vandalism.

However, he further told a Serbian newspaper, “They could have just erased the words ‘Pumpaj, pumpaj,’ but to cross out Novak’s figure – I really don’t understand it. That means they’re willing to erase history just to stay in power. Incredible!”

This is not the first incident targeting artwork of Djokovic. Previously, in 2023, a mural in Orahovac, western Kosovo, was twice vandalized following Djokovic’s public remark affirming the region’s significance to Serbia. The repeated attacks on murals highlight ongoing tensions surrounding the athlete’s public image in the Balkans. The phrase “Pumpaj, pumpaj,” featured prominently in the Belgrade mural, is derived from a popular song and has been embraced by student movements as a chant, lending the artwork additional symbolic weight amid Serbia’s recent protests. But why did they even do it?

Well, it all happened last year, in December, when Novak Djokovic publicly supported the students. After a heartbreaking railway station canopy collapse in Novi Sad k*lled 16 people, university students protested against corruption and demanded accountability. And what Djokovic  did was just advocate for them, stating that the voices of the young people needed to be heard and even donning a jumper that read, “Students are champions.” Imagine this small deed caused controversy for Serbia’s long-celebrated hero. He was even being labeled as a “tr**tor” for just this thing! But what matters to us is: Is he safe?

Novak Djokovic’s new home provides peace

Well, for now, Novak Djokovic is safe and healthy. He and his family have moved to Glyfada, a seaside area situated just south of Athens, after months of turmoil in Serbia. Even his children, Tara (8) and Stefan (11), have already started studying at Saint Lawrence College, a local private British school, and Novak has been spotted out and about meeting with fans, autographing, and adjusting to normal living. And tennis training? He plays tennis in the Kavouri Tennis Club and is considering joining either the Kavouri or the 91 Athens Riviera tennis club. He is also establishing his tennis academy. Nevertheless, ATP seems to be somewhat helping him in tennis, too.

As we know, the Belgrade Open, a tournament long run by the Djokovic family, has moved to Athens. Furthermore, it has been renamed the Hellenic Championship, which will take place from November 2 to 8, 2025. It’s “here to stay,” according to his brother Djordje, showing ATP’s keen interest in the Greek market. In addition to this, Djokovic has already been to see the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis twice and is believed to be seeking a Greek Golden Visa to grant him permanent residency. Newly moving to a new country where he can stay, play, and make something of his name, the relocation of Novak Djokovic is more of a calculated fresh start in a new country than an escape.