Tennis icon Novak Djokovic faced some disapproval in Greece, where he was booed at a basketball game in his new residing country. Earlier this summer, news emerged that ‘Nole’ was moving his family to Greece, despite being a proud Serbian native. Known not only for his tennis prowess but also as a fervent sports enthusiast, Djokovic has a keen interest in basketball, often seen attending matches involving Serbian teams like Red Star or Partizan.
Local fans took notice when Djokovic appeared at a recent Euroleague game between Panathinaikos and Maccabi. Panathinaikos, one of the top Greek contenders, was up against the struggling Israeli team Maccabi. Interestingly, Panathinaikos was just one spot below Djokovic’s favored Red Star in the rankings, adding a competitive edge to the situation when he and his son Stefan were displayed on the arena’s screen.
The crowd reacted with boos upon seeing the Serbian star on the screen, despite neither of his supported teams playing in the match. Although it’s unclear how many of the approximately 18,500 attendees joined in the booing, the audible disapproval was captured by TV cameras as Djokovic enjoyed the sporting event in his new home.
Despite the negative reception, Djokovic appeared unfazed, engrossed in his phone during the Jumbotron appearance, while his son Stefan acknowledged the crowd with a peace sign. The following day, Djokovic was warmly welcomed at another basketball game where he watched Olympiacos lose to Monaco, receiving cheers from the audience this time.
Panathinaikos went on to triumph over Maccabi in their Euroleague encounter, maintaining a close race with Red Star in the rankings. Djokovic might not attend the upcoming game between Olympiacos and Partizan due to his participation in the ATP Finals in Turin starting shortly after. Despite speculations about his retirement and concerns about his form and fitness, Djokovic is set to compete against top players like Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, and Taylor Fritz in the ATP tournament, where he is expected to receive a much warmer reception from the crowd.