Tennis icon Novak Djokovic faced a mixed reception in Greece, where he was recently booed at a basketball game. Djokovic, known for relocating his family to Greece over the summer, is a proud Serb who unexpectedly chose Athens as his new residence.
Aside from his unparalleled tennis prowess, Djokovic is a fervent sports enthusiast, especially passionate about basketball. Despite his long-standing support for Serbian clubs Red Star and Partizan, local fans expressed disapproval when he attended an Euroleague match between Panathinaikos and Maccabi.
Interestingly, Panathinaikos, currently chasing a play-off spot, shares a competitive ranking with Djokovic’s favorite Red Star. The crowd’s reaction was evident when Djokovic and his son, Stefan, appeared on the arena’s big screen, prompting loud boos even though neither of Djokovic’s supported teams was playing.
While it’s unclear how many of the 18,500 attendees participated in the booing, the incident was captured by TV cameras as Djokovic enjoyed the event. Despite the negative reception, Djokovic seemed unfazed and focused on his phone, while Stefan acknowledged the crowd with a peace sign.
Following the Panathinaikos game, Djokovic attended another basketball match where he was warmly welcomed. The following week, Panathinaikos triumphed over Maccabi in the Euroleague, maintaining a close rivalry with Red Star. Djokovic, however, is unlikely to attend the upcoming match between Olympiacos and Partizan due to his ATP Finals commitments in Turin.
Amid speculations about his retirement, Djokovic is gearing up to compete against top players like Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, and Taylor Fritz at the ATP Finals. Despite the recent mixed reception in Greece, Djokovic is anticipated to receive a more welcoming reception from fans in Turin.
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