A few weeks ago, Novak Djokovic had fans on the edge of their seats with his uncertain plans. He kept things open-ended, saying, “After Shanghai, the only tournament I know I’m going to play is the one in Athens, and then we’ll see if I play Turin or not. I’m not sure yet.”Which shouldn’t come as a surprise, as he’s played just 13 tournaments this year, including all four Slams. For the most part, he’s been open about choosing health over chasing matches and ranking points this season. But it seemed like he was set to play the ATP Finals after his run at the Athens Open in Greece. Was that really the plan?

Well, not exactly. While it was earlier confirmed that Nole secured his spot in the ATP Finals in Turin, the buzz grew stronger that he would finally return after withdrawing from the event last year. That rumor came from Italian tennis chief Angelo Binaghi, who confidently claimed Djokovic would play this time. But Novak quickly set the record straight. Speaking to the press at the Athens Open, he said, “I don’t know where he got that information — it certainly wasn’t from me or my team. I’ll decide at the end of this tournament.”

It’s not the first time he’s been blunt about his schedule this season. Back in August, he told Forbes that the long tournament stretches make it hard to keep up. He said, “So yeah, it’s just not any more prioritizing the heavy schedule as I used to. I’m not chasing the rankings or building up my points or defending, etc. I just don’t think about it anymore.” So, is he being completely honest about reconsidering the ATP Finals, where he won twice in 2022 and 2023? It’s an interesting twist.

It’s a real head-scratcher how Novak Djokovic keeps rewriting history. By qualifying again, he’s now tied Roger Federer’s record of 18 Nitto ATP Finals appearances, a perfect example of his incredible longevity. His major highlight this season was in Geneva, where he captured his 100th tour-level title, joining an elite club with legends like Jimmy Connors (109) and Federer (103).

Even at 38, he stayed sharp all year. He reached the semi-finals at every Grand Slam, achieving that rare full-season sweep for the seventh time. He also made the ATP Masters 1000 final in Miami and the semi-final in Shanghai, proving his fire still burns bright deep into another milestone season. Now, fans will have to wait to see if Nole takes on defending champion Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz in Turin.

In the meantime, his run in Greece started well. Djokovic opened his campaign with a solid win in the round of 16 against Alejandro Tabilo, 7-6, 6-1. It was an impressive performance from the Serb, and it’s his first match in his new home.

Novak Djokovic gets honest about feeling at “home” in Athens

If you haven’t heard, this summer, Djokovic quietly turned Greece into his new home with his family. Reports suggest that his children, Stefan and Tara, are now enrolled in a private British school in Athens, while he has also joined a local club to settle into life in the city. The Serbian star even shifted the ATP event his family once hosted in Belgrade to Athens. This week, after beating Tabilo, Nole finally opened up about the big move! “It feels really at home, playing in Athens. A few months ago when I came here with my family, I was very excited because I have always loved Greece,” he said.

The atmosphere inside the indoor ATP 250 in Athens fit right in with Djokovic’s high spirits. He kept his cool in a tight opening-set tiebreak before taking full control in the second. The win marked his 225th tour-level quarterfinal in 25 different countries. Having lost to Tabilo on clay in Rome last year and Monte-Carlo earlier this season, Djokovic wanted payback, and he got it! But for him what stood out was the warm reception of the crowd. “Serbians love Greece, for sure. Historically, culturally and religiously, we have a lot of things connecting us. It was amazing to experience the great hospitality of the Greek people,” he declared, with a smile that said he truly meant it.

The 38-year-old extended his perfect 28-0 record this year after winning the first set and looked sharp again heading into the last stretch of the season. Next up, he faces Portugal’s Nuno Borges for a place in the semifinals. Could Athens be the site of his second title this year?