Novak Djokovic is reportedly set to move to Athens permanently from September, enrolling in Greece’s Golden Visa residency program, according to Greek media reports.
As reported by Proto Thema, Djokovic’s wife Jelena, their son Stefan, and daughter Tara are preparing to settle in a new home in Athens.
The family is currently house-hunting in the city’s northern suburbs but may consider other areas depending on which English-speaking private school they choose for the children. Djokovic himself will use Athens as his base between tournaments, joining his family when not competing.
The move will be facilitated through Greece’s Golden Visa program, which grants five-year residence permits to non-EU nationals who invest in the country. The tennis star’s Friday evening dinner with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at a well-known restaurant in Kolonaki has further fuelled reports of his impending relocation.
At 38 years old, Djokovic — widely regarded as the greatest tennis player of all time, with a record 24 Grand Slam titles and 428 weeks as world number one — remains active on the tour, most recently reaching the semi-finals of Roland Garros. However, he is now preparing for life after tennis as he nears the twilight of his legendary career.
Tensions with Serbia’s leadership
Since capturing his first Grand Slam in 2008, Djokovic has been a unifying figure in Serbia — a country often divided along fierce sports rivalries, particularly between Red Star and Partizan fans. His matches routinely draw nationwide support under the rallying cry “Idemo Nole!”, which means “Let’s go, Nole!” (Nole being his ickname).
However, relations with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić have cooled in recent months. Once a vocal supporter — especially during Djokovic’s 2022 Australian Open visa saga and again when he announced a Djokovic museum for Belgrade — Vučić’s government now views the tennis champion with suspicion.
The shift follows Djokovic’s public support for student-led protests against the Serbian government, which erupted after a tragic rail accident in Novi Sad in November 2024. On 18 December, Djokovic posted on X (formerly Twitter):
“As someone who deeply believes in the power of youth and their desire for a better future, I believe it’s important that their voices are heard. Serbia has enormous potential, and its educated youth is its greatest strength. What we all need is understanding and respect. With you, Novak.”
State-run media ignored the post, and Serbian public television aired a censored version, omitting his closing line: “With you, Novak.”
Athens over Monaco, Marbella or New York
From 2005 to 2020, Djokovic lived in Monaco with Jelena (whom he married in 2014), then moved to a villa in Marbella during the pandemic. He also owns homes in New York and Belgrade, where his family usually spends summers.
But Belgrade is now off the table. While he maintains strong business and philanthropic ties to Serbia and his extended family remains there, the couple decided against raising their children in the Serbian capital.
Jelena in particular is said to prefer a different environment for the family, and Athens emerged as the ideal choice — a city close to Belgrade with daily flight connections, and one that Djokovic has long admired.
A longstanding love for Greece
Djokovic’s admiration for Greece stretches back years. In January 2009, during a thrilling Australian Open match against Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis, he told the crowd:
“I’ve never experienced anything like this. Rival fans chanting my name together. But we’re Orthodox brothers.”
He has often expressed affection for Greek culture and people, with his public tributes increasing after the rise of Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas.
In 2014, during the Brazil World Cup, Djokovic celebrated Greece’s goal against Ivory Coast and cheered for the Greek national team. Just months earlier, he and Jelena had posted a photo in front of the Parthenon, announcing her pregnancy.
In September 2017, weeks after the birth of his daughter, he attended a ceremony at the Peace and Friendship Stadium in Athens to honour legendary coach Dušan Ivković, where he jokingly tested his Greek:
“Γεια σας! Τι κάνεις; Γεια σου φίλε! Ευχαριστώ! Αυτά τα ελληνικά ξέρω” (Hello! How are you? Hi, my friend! Thank you! That’s all the Greek I know).
He was later presented with a jersey by Olympiakos owners Panagiotis and Giorgos Angelopoulos.
Djokovic has continued to show his connection to Greece during matches with Tsitsipas, including a heartfelt statement after defeating him in the 2023 Australian Open final:
“I want to say something about Greece and Serbia. We are two relatively small countries without a strong tennis tradition. We didn’t have many players to look up to at this level. So to the kids watching us play tennis, keep dreaming. Anything is possible. It doesn’t matter where you come from. The more challenges you face, the stronger you become. Stefanos and I are proof of that.”
