Novak Djokovic has recently been in the news for his aggressive actions off the pitch in his native Serbia. Djokovic was photographed wearing a "Students are champions" hoodie during a basketball derby between Red Star and Partizan in Belgrade on January 31, 2025, to show his support for the Serbian student protests.

The move comes against the backdrop of a tragic incident that occurred in November 2024 when a canopy collapsed at Novi Sad railway station, killing 15 people and injuring two. The renovation of the station was carried out by a Chinese company, but many linked the tragedy to corruption and negligence on the part of the Serbian government.

The incident sparked widespread outrage, especially among the student body, who have been on the front lines calling for justice and transparency. Initially, the protests were simply protests over the collapse of the train station, but they soon expanded into a broader anti-corruption campaign, with demonstrators demanding that government officials be held accountable and that budgets for education be increased.

As the protests spread across the country, Serbians have both support and resistance. The 24-time Grand Slam singles champion has publicly voiced his opposition to the injustices suffered by the protesters, and on January 31, 2025, a photo of Djokovic wearing a "Students are champions" hoodie quickly went viral on social media, and then Reddit users shared the image on the same day.

Serbian Prime Minister Miloš Vucevic and Novi Sad Mayor Milan Duric recently resigned as protests continue to shape Serbia's political landscape.

Djokovic expressed support for Serbian student Sonja Poniavić, who was hit by a car during the protests in Belgrade. After his victory over Mahachi in the third round of the 2025 Australian Open, Djokovic sent an emotional message to the injured Sonia via match broadcast cameras.

In addition, he also expressed his anger at the incident in his post-match press conference: "I am here to express my support to Sonia and I am very shocked to see this. I couldn't believe what kind of psychology was happening that made a person hit another person, even a young woman, a student. I oppose violence and call for peace. ”

At the Australian Open, Djokovic defeated 24th seed Lehecka and third seed Alcaraz to advance to the semifinals, where he will face world No. 2 Zverev. However, Djokovic was forced to retire after the first set due to a torn left thigh muscle. After the unexpected retirement, questions began to emerge about the authenticity of Djokovic's injury. To explain the speculation, the 37-year-old shared images of his own MRI scan on social media to show the public the status of his injury.

Djokovic is reportedly set to return to action in the coming weeks. There was initial speculation that it could take months for Djokovic to recover and return to action due to a torn quadriceps muscle, however reports now suggest that Djokovic has undergone multiple screenings and recovery training in Belgrade and is expected to return to the Tour in about two weeks. He could make a comeback at ATP 500 Doha in the Middle East, which kicks off on 17 February.(Source: Tennis Home Author: Spark)