The five-time world’s best athlete, Novak Djokovic, made an appearance at the Belgrade Arena recently. The highly anticipated “eternal derby” was played between Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade and Crvena Zvezda in the 24th round of the EuroLeague. Djokovic’s deep love of basketball is well known. He was seen enjoying the electrifying atmosphere of one of Europe’s most intense basketball rivalries. What made it more special? It was Djokovic’s first public appearance since sustaining an injury and retiring at the semifinals of the Australian Open.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion attended the Belgrade Arena alongside his wife Jelena, his brother Djordje, and son Stefan. During the halftime break, Djokovic also spoke live from the stands, sending a message through EuroLeague channels, and encouraging fans to embrace the game. “This is currently the best place in Europe, probably in the world. This is the temple of basketball, the land of basketball, the city of basketball,” former world No. 1 expressed enthusiastically.

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade recently clinched a EuroLeague playoff spot with an away win against AS Monaco. This added even more significance to the high-stakes match. Novak Djokovic took to Instagram and posted a story with his selfie from the arena, captioning it, “The best place in the world to watch basketball.” Although Djokovic generally supports all Serbian clubs, he had previously made it clear that his heart lies with Crvena Zvezda, except when it comes to eternal derby.

Interestingly, his son Stefan is an avid Partizan supporter. Djokovic has also admitted that sometimes it requires him to calm his son down during the intense matches. Speaking to the Sport Klub after the match, Djokovic shared his thoughts on the exhilarating showdown. He said, “I think the derby justified tonight the epithet of the biggest derby in the world. Terribly high nervousness and tension among both the fans and the teams. I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t expect anything less. It will probably be harder for everyone to fall asleep tonight, but we attended another spectacle, congratulations. On the atmosphere, the players on the fight, and often on the star of the battle.”

The game lived up to the hype, coming down to the wire. In the end, Crvena Zvezda edged out Partizan with a 71-73 victory and won the Derby. All thanks to latch free throws by Nemanja Nedovic. The atmosphere was electric and Djokovic felt the same intensity as any other fan in the arena. After all, it is one of the greatest basketball rivalries in Europe. While Djokovic’s passion for basketball was on full display, his presence at the game also carried a deeper significance beyond sports.

Novak Djokovic shows support for student protestors

Novak Djokovic was spotted wearing a hoodie with the message “Students are Champions” during the heated derby match. This indicated his solidarity with the students protesting in Serbia. The backdrop to Djokovic’s silent yet powerful statement lies in a tragic event that took place in November 2024. At Novi Sad railway station, a canopy collapsed, claiming 15 lives and injuring two others.

The station’s renovation was being overseen by Chinese companies, and this became a focal point of controversy. Many have linked the disaster to government shortcomings and negligence. This tragedy ignited widespread outrage among students who have been at the forefront of demanding justice and transparency. Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic and Novi Sad’s mayor Milan Duric recently announced their resignations in response to the growing unrest.

Djokovic has been vocal about opposition to the violence inflicted on the protestors. Particularly, the mistreatment of students and professors by the government forces. As a national icon, his stance adds weight to the ongoing improvement, drawing global attention to the students’ fight for justice and systematic change. With his unwavering love for basketball and his commitment to social causes, Djokovic once again proves that he is more than just a sports legend.