 "Novak Djokovic was booed in Athens during a basketball match. Image: EuroLeague")
Novak Djokovic has quickly realised that he won’t be able to escape his past sporting allegiances after shifting home from Belgrade in Serbia to Athens, Greece. And also that not all Greeks are going to be welcoming to him. The reality check dawned upon Djokovic when he attended a EuroLeague basketball match between Panathinaikos and Maccabi Tel Aviv at the Athens Olympic Sports Center Spyros Louis on Wednesday, along with his son.
The tennis great, who left his home country, Serbia, due to media criticism and lack of public support after standing with protestors against the President Aleksandar Vučić , was treated to an exciting match in his new home as Panathinaikos secured a 99-85 victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv. But an interesting episode transpired during the game when Djokovic was shown on the giant screen.
Djokovic booed in Athens during basketball match
When cameras panned to Djokovic, the Panathinaikos fans were quick to express their displeasure as he booed at the stadium. Why? Well, because the 38-year-old Djokovic is a fan of Red Star Belgrade, a Serbian football club. Red Star have a strong friendship with the fans of Olympiacos, a Greek club, who are the rivals of Panathinaikos.
Nonetheless, Djokovic’s presence at the Stadium showed his willingness to connect with local teams, fans and culture, even though some rival supporters would find it tough to accept his continued presence.
Another reason Djokovic was at the Athens Olympic Sports Center Spyros Louis is that it is the same venue that will host the Hellenic Championship ATP 250. Greece’s first ATP tournament in three decades would replace the tournament in Belgrade that was hosted by the Djokovic family.
Djokovic has already confirmed his participation in the ATP 250 event, which is the only tournament where he is guaranteed to compete by the end of the year. There’s still suspense over his participation in the prestigious ATP Finals.
While discussing the possibility of the 24-time Grand Slam winner’s participation in the ATP Finals on a recent podcast, former American tennis stars John Isner and Sam Querrey failed to come to a common conclusion , as the tennis world feels Djokovic is nearing his retirement.