Djokovic interrupted by family members with quirky question during press conference: 'Maybe just take him for a second'

The inaugural Hellenic Championship in Athens witnessed a quirky moment involving 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic and his family. Djokovic was speaking to reporters during the press conference after beating Alejandro Tabilo to reach the quarter-finals of the ATP 250 event when he was interrupted by his wife Jelena and their children.

Jelena poked her head through a door while his his son, Stefan, and daughter, Tara entered the room where the journalists were seated. “Hi,” said Stefan after their appearance elicited laughter from the mediapersons present.

The Serbian superstar asked his family members if they had a tennis-related question for him.

“We just wanted to say goodbye,” Jelena responded. “Maybe just take him for a second, and he’ll be back,” she continued, this time directing her statement to the members of the press.

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Djokovic, however, refused to pay heed to that request. “Give me one minute, I’m just finishing. One minute, I’m coming back,” he said.

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Djokovic had been given a bye for the first round of the Hellenic Championships, and began his campaign with a 7-6 (7-3) 6-1 victory against Canadian-Chilean player Tabilo. He faces Portugal’s Nuno Borges in the quarter-finals of the event on Thursday.

Djokovic denies confirming participation in ATP Finals

The 38-year-old also also cleared the air over his participation in the season-ending ATP Finals at the same press conference where he had been interrupted by his family members.

Responding to Italian Tennis Association president Angelo Binagi’s comment claiming that the veteran star had confirmed his participation in Turin, Djokovic replied that he had not made any such statement.

“I don’t know where he got that information from. It did not come from me, nor from my team. I will make a decision at the end of the tournament in Athens,” Djokovic, who had won his maiden Olympic gold medal in Paris last year, said.

Djokovic has already qualified for the season-ending finals along with reigning champion Jannik Sinner as well as six-time Grand Slam winner Carlos Alcaraz as well as Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz, Alex de Minaur and Ben Shelton.

‘Djoker’ had missed the Finals last year for the first time since 2017 despite securing his qualification, and it remains to be seen if he remains absent this year as well.