Novak Djokovic is about to return to motion on the inaugural version of the Hellenic Championship in Athens, Greece, on Tuesday, November 4. Forward of his opening match, the Serbian revealed the explanation behind his transfer to Greece together with his spouse Jelena and two children. The Athens ATP 250 occasion changed Belgrade, the Serb’s dwelling occasion, on the calendar this yr.
Djokovic and his household shifted to Greece after the participant’s semifinal exit within the US Open in September. Since then, he has solely featured within the Shanghai Masters, the place he suffered a shock semifinal defeat towards Valentin Vacherot.
The 38-year-old additionally withdrew from the continued Paris Masters, the final ATP 1000 occasion of the season, and selected the Hellenic Championship as his ultimate occasion earlier than the ATP Finals in Turin. Speaking to CNN Greece forward of his Spherical of 16 match, Novak Djokovic defined the explanation behind his transfer to Greece and the expertise his household has had to date in Athens.
“There may be a variety of historic, spiritual, cultural, social ties between Greece and Serbia which can be an enormous a part of the explanation why I’m right here,” Djokovic mentioned. “It’s also due to the climate, the meals is unbelievable, you might be on one of many nicest coastlines in Europe, on the planet. I simply love the approach to life, you already know, and I actually really feel that the Greek and Serbian individuals are like brothers, so that is the most important cause.”
“We’re as a household attempting to see how life goes right here and expertise. You already know, it is solely been lower than two months, so we are going to see the way it goes. However to date, as I mentioned, it has been a really optimistic expertise,” he added.
The 24-time Grand Slam winner is the top-seeded participant on the Athens occasion and obtained a bye within the Spherical of 32. He’s set to face Alejandro Tabilo of Chile within the Spherical of 16 match at OAKA Basketball Area on Tuesday.
What’s subsequent for Novak Djokovic?
Rising damage considerations have compelled Novak Djokovic to think about his schedule very rigorously this season. He has displayed his want for the highest prize by reaching the semifinals of all 4 Majors and successful the Geneva Open, his one centesimal ATP singles profession title.
Nonetheless, earlier than the Athens occasion, the legendary tennis participant had participated in simply eight non-Main occasions this yr. The 38-year-old not too long ago snubbed the Paris Masters, triggering hypothesis about his participation within the ATP Finals 2025 occasion in Turin, Italy.
The 2024 Paris Olympics gold medalist has but to announce his plans, however a latest report has confirmed his participation within the ATP Finals. In accordance with Angelo Binaghi, the president of the Italian Tennis Federation, the World No. 5 will participate within the season-ending occasion in Turin.
“Now we have affirmation that Djokovic might be in Turin,” Binaghi instructed Italian radio channel Rai Gr Parlamento on November 3.
The Serb will be a part of Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, and Alex de Minaur in Turin. Lorenzo Musetti and Felix Auger-Aliassime are preventing for the final spot within the season-ending occasion beginning on November 9.
Edited by Riddhiman Sarkar