Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has finally broken his silence on Novak Djokovic after the country’s biggest sporting icon moved his family to Greece. Djokovic’s wife, Jelena Djokovic, and his two children, Stefan and Tara, now live in Athens after leaving Belgrade last year.

While Djokovic has never really revealed the reason for leaving his country, Serbia, it has been reported that he decided to do so due to pro-Vucic national media running a
‘smear’ campaign against the 24-time Grand Slam winner after he extended support to anti-government agitations.

Djokovic vs Vucic

The anti-Vucic protest began in 2024 after an accident at a railway station led to the death of 16 people. Djokovic has at different stages supported the youth of the country, leading the protests.

“As someone who deeply believes in the power of young people and their desire for a better future, I consider it important that their voice is heard. Serbia has enormous potential, and educated youth is its greatest strength. What we all need is understanding and respect. With you, Novak.” Djokovic wrote on X in March 2025.

Now, while recently speaking to TV Pink, as quoted by Sport Klub, Vucic spoke about Djokovic for the first time since his move to Athens.

Vucic breaks silence on Djokovic leaving Serbia

Vucic praised Djokovic’s performance in the Australian Open 2026 as the 38-year-old reached the final, losing to Carlos Alcaraz.

“I wholeheartedly support Djokovic and all the people who wear the Serbian tricolour, and [I am] looking forward to his success,” Vucic said.

“[He showed] something incredible in those years [in his win against Jannik Sinner]. [He is] the greatest of this time in a difficult and demanding sport.

“It is much more than a congratulatory message, he represents his country with dignity and makes it popular. Regardless of the result of the final, I support him.”

President Vucic revealed that he had a word with Djokovic, but announced that he will “not change” his beliefs under anyone’s influence.

“I told him what I thought, now I would say it in a harsher way, not towards him, but towards the situation we were in,” Vucic added.

“I will not change my beliefs under the influence of any sports, acting or entertainment star.”

While Djokovic has not reacted to Vucic’s recent comments, the politician’s tough stance is only likely to isolate him further in Serbia. And his return to Belgrade in the near future looks even more unlikely.

A new controversy has sparked in Serbia involving one of its greatest ever icon, Novak Djokovic, and President Aleksandar Vucic, as the 24-time tennis Grand Slam winner was baselessly linked with Epstein files by a pro-government tabloid newspaper. The Kurir tabloid newspaper, which is known for its pro-Serbian Progressive Party and Vucic stands, has done a story on Djokovic’s name being present in the Epstein files.

The headline of the story reads: “NOVAK DJOKOVIC IN EPSTEIN’S FILES! Encrypted Message, Unknown Person and One detail that will remain an eternal mystery!”

Djokovic-Epstein files.story rocks Serbia

According to the news report, convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein reacted to Novak Djokovic’s engagement to his now-wife Jelena by sending an email to an unknown recipient that read: “yikes.”

Interestingly, there’s nothing more linking Djokovic with Epstein, a former American financier and child sex offender, who died by suicide in custody. The USA government has recently released millions of documents, emails, videos and images that detail Epstein’s activities, and his connections with celebrities, businessmen and politicians.

A Serbian tabloid published a completely baseless article claiming that Novak Djokovic’s name is in the Epstein files. This is pure misinformation.

Novak deserves better than this.

I hope he considers suing. pic.twitter.com/xSIsMvSQU7

— Danny (@DjokovicFan_) February 19, 2026

However, there’s nothing to suggest Djokovic was involved with Epstein in any way. But Kurir’s attempt to link Djokovic with a convicted child sex offender is being seen as an attempt by a pro-Serbian government media to tarnish Djokovic’s image.

Djokovic vs Vucic continues

The relationship between Djokovic and Serbian President Vucic has deteriorated ever since the tennis star supported the protests against the politician in his country. The protest began after the collapse of a canopy at the Novi Sad railway station, which led to multiple deaths in 2024.

Djokovic, on multiple occasions, has supported the student protests through messages on social media, and was later also forced to leave the country due to a
smear campaign by the national media.

His family now lives in Athens, Greece, after shifting base from Belgrade. But the pro-Serbian government media is not ready to leave Djokovic alone.

Serbian fans criticise Kurir over linking Djokovic with Epstein

Djokovic’s fans in Serbia, however, are super angry about Kurir’s disparaging new piece on the tennis player, resulting in some strong reactions on social media.

“This time I have a message for the entire editorial team of Kurir: go fuck yourselves in your mothers’ cunts, what a bunch of shit you are,” a fan wrote on X while sharing the story.

Овом приликом имам да поручим целој редакцији курира да се носе у три пичке материне, каква сте ви говна pic.twitter.com/IqJx4GVYMT

— Немања (@NRad17) February 18, 2026

Another fan named Suzana Milicic wrote: “The text says that Epstein sent someone a link with news that Novak and Jelena got engaged and wrote “yikes” but Kurir has this headline.

“The sports editor at is named Miloš Bjelinić All people.”

U tekstu piše da je Epstin nekom poslao link sa vešću o tome da su se Novak i Jelena verili i da je napisao “yikes” ali Kurir ima ovaj naslov.

Urednik sporta na se zove Miloš Bjelinić
Sve ljudine pic.twitter.com/MVkOhf2Rqq

— Suzana Milicic (@SuzanaMilicic) February 19, 2026

Serbian President Vucic was also criticised by a fan on social media for trying to harm Djokovic’s reputation.

“Courier spat on Novak Djokovic. They wrote that he is in Epstein’s files. Such evil has never ruled in Serbia. This octopus led by the SNS is the greatest shame in our history,” an account by the name Špiro Seneka wrote on X.

Kurir je popljuvao Novaka Đokovića. Napisali da je u Epštajnovim fajlovima.

Ovakvo zlo u Srbiji nikada nije vladalo. Ova hobotnica predvođena SNS-om je najveća sramota u našoj istoriji.

— Špiro Seneka (@SenekaSpiro) February 18, 2026

While the ownership of Kurir media newspaper and television channel is not amply clear, it has been reported that it is now owned by the state telecom operator Telekom Srbija, firmly establishing it as a mouthpiece of the Serbian government.