“In fact, they are doing me a favor. The more they cheer against me, the better for me. They wake something in me that they perhaps don’t want to see – a winner,” Novak Djokovic told Serbian reporters back in 2023. Those words still echo today, a reminder of how the world’s most decorated tennis warrior has long thrived amid hostility. Despite his unmatched success, Novak Djokovic’s relationship with the crowd has often been stormy, with boos at Wimbledon against Jordan Thompson serving as just one example. But even off the court, that magnetic tension follows him. Recently, the polarizing Serbian icon and his son faced a rowdy crowd reception in Greece, proving once again that Djokovic never escapes the noise.

Novak Djokovic received a frosty welcome in Greece this week, just months after moving his family there in search of a fresh start. The 24-time Grand Slam champion attended a EuroLeague showdown between Panathinaikos and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Athens, but the night quickly turned awkward. As cameras caught him courtside, sections of the crowd began to jeer, their disapproval echoing through the OAKA Olympic Indoor Hall. 

Djokovic, a proud Serb born in Belgrade, had surprised fans earlier in the summer when he relocated to Greece, setting up a base in the capital with his wife and children. The move was meant to signal a new chapter, a serene transition beyond the court’s relentless grind. Yet, Tuesday night told a different story. When Djokovic and his nine-year-old son Stefan appeared on the big screen, the 18,500-strong crowd erupted in boos loud enough to shake the arena, and the moment was caught clearly on live television.

The source of the hostility ran deeper than tennis. Djokovic’s unwavering allegiance to Serbian basketball club Red Star Belgrade has long been public knowledge. Red Star shares a fierce brotherhood with Greek club Olympiacos, Panathinaikos’s fiercest rival, and that loyalty didn’t go unnoticed by the passionate Greek supporters. The symbolism wasn’t lost on anyone inside the OAKA; Djokovic, unintentionally, had walked into enemy territory.

Unfazed, Djokovic remained calm amid the storm. As the crowd jeered, he simply scrolled through his phone, his demeanor steady, almost amused. Young Stefan, meanwhile, offered a moment of innocence in the chaos, smiling and flashing a peace sign toward the cameras, seemingly unfazed by the tension around him. 

The next night brought a complete reversal. Attending the Olympiacos vs. Monaco clash at the Peace and Friendship Stadium, Djokovic received cheers instead of boos, warmly welcomed by the Olympiacos faithful who admired his Red Star connection.

Now, as he prepares for the ATP Finals in Turin, the Serbian legend once again stands at the crossroads of competition and controversy. Despite nagging injuries and fluctuating form, Djokovic remains a towering favorite, ready to duel giants like Alcaraz, Sinner, Zverev, and Fritz, and to remind the world, once more, that no crowd can shake a champion’s calm.

But, before the ATP Finals, Novak Djokovic returns to action at the ATP 250 in Athens, where a tough American challenge awaits.

Novak Djokovic braces for a stern test at the Hellenic Championship

On Tuesday, November 4, Novak Djokovic steps onto Greek soil as the No. 1 seed at the Hellenic Championship in Athens, a new chapter before the ATP Finals. With a first-round bye in hand, his campaign begins in round two. Across the net, he’ll find either Alejandro Tabilo or Adam Walton waiting. Djokovic and Walton have no past encounters, but against Tabilo, memories sting.

The Chilean holds a 2-0 lead in their H2H. Earlier this season in Monte Carlo, Tabilo stunned the Serbian in the opening round. Before that, he repeated the upset in Rome. 

If he clears the opener, the quarterfinals promise a sterner test. Nuno Borges or Laslo Djere may stand in his path. Borges, ranked No. 46, has struggled for consistency this year. Djere, meanwhile, knows Djokovic well, but not well enough to beat him. The Serbs have clashed three times, all won by Novak, including two straight US Open encounters. Djere’s fighting spirit and a title in Santiago show his form, but history still leans heavily on Djokovic’s side.

The semifinals could bring young guns like Brandon Nakashima, Fabian Marozsan, or the towering Reilly Opelka. None is easy. Opelka, in particular, poses a real threat; he defeated Djokovic earlier this year in Brisbane, powered by his unreturnable serve. 

The final might deliver a familiar face: Lorenzo Musetti, Alexei Popyrin, Luciano Darderi, or Alexandre Muller. Each brings their own edge, yet Djokovic’s record speaks volumes, 8-1 over Musetti, and dominant wins over Muller and Darderi.

The odds favor Novak Djokovic, but Athens won’t hand him anything. Before Turin beckons, one question burns bright: can the Serbian titan conquer Athens and roar into the ATP Finals with renewed fire?