 "Novak Djokovic spoke about moving family to Greece after winning his opening match at the Hellenic championship. Image: Reuters")
Novak Djokovic turned emotional after winning his first match in Athens since moving his family to Greece from Serbia. Djokovic has moved his family away from his home country due to a smear campaign against him after throwing his support behind protests against President Aleksandar Vučić.
Djokovic has also moved the ATP event that his family organised in Belgrade to Athens, and he began the Hellenic Championship with a 7-6, 6-1 win over Alejandro Tabilo in his first-ever professional tennis match in Greece on Tuesday.
Djokovic calls Athens ‘home’ after uprooting family from Serbia
After his victory in the ATP 250 event, the 38-year-old Djokovic broke his silence on moving his family to Greece as he labelled the country as his new home, and praised the locals for welcoming him with love.
“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.
“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.
“More than the recognition for my tennis achievement, I feel people have approached me in the most friendly and humane way and that is something that has touched my heart. Athens is in my heart.”
According to reports, Djokovic’s children, Stefan and Tara, have enrolled in a private British school in Athens , and the tennis star has also joined a local club.
Talking about his victory over Tabilo, Djokovic said: “We played two times on clay court, this year and last year and he won both of these matches. I was more under tension before the match than some other matches and I really tried to draw the energy from the crowd.”
The 24-time Grand Slam winner would now take on Nuno Borges in the quarter-final on Thursday.