When Novak Djokovic supported the Serbian student protest movement

As student protests gather momentum in Delhi, Novak Djokovic’s support for the Serbian student movement is once again in the spotlight. The 24-time Grand Slam champion was one of the most prominent public figures to stand with Serbian students from the nationwide demonstrations to the deadly tragedy at the Novi Sad train station in November 2024.

The movement began after a concrete canopy collapsed at the newly renovated train station in Novi Sad on November 1, 2024, killing 16 people. The incident sparked public outrage, with students accusing the government of corruption, negligence and a lack of transparency. What began as anger over the tragedy soon grew into a nationwide movement demanding accountability, with Djokovic becoming one of its most prominent supporters.

Speaking for the first time in December 2024, he said that Serbia’s educated youth represent the country’s greatest strength and deserve to be heard.

A month later, during the Australian Open, Djokovic again threw his weight behind the move. After one of his victories, he wrote “For Sonja” on the camera lens in support of student Sonja Ponjavic, who was seriously injured after being hit by a car during a protest. Explaining the gesture, Djokovic said he stands with the students fighting for a better future and cannot remain silent about what is happening in his country.

His support did not end there. In the following months, Djokovic attended a basketball derby in Belgrade wearing a sweatshirt with the slogan “Students are Champions”, a phrase closely associated with the protests. In March, he and his wife Jelena described a student rally of more than 100,000 people as “historic”, adding weight to a movement that was still gaining momentum.

Even during Wimbledon 2025, Djokovic found himself at the center of the conversation. His now-famous goal celebration was widely interpreted as a nod to the protestors’ “Pump Up” slogan, although he later insisted it was simply a celebration he shared with his children and was not intended as a political message. But ahead of the US Open, his comments left little room for doubt.

Warning that Serbia is “literally on the brink of civil war”, Djokovic spoke openly about the growing political tensions in the country. Later that year, he also expressed support for Dijana Hrka, whose son died in the collapse of the Novi Sad station after she began a hunger strike outside parliament demanding accountability.

His repeated support of the student movement came at a high price. Pro-government tabloids and media outlets, many of which had once hailed him as Serbia’s greatest sports icon, turned against him.

A mural of Djokovic in Belgrade was vandalized while he later relocated his family to Greece amid rising political tensions and sustained criticism from pro-government media. Despite the backlash, Djokovic never distanced himself from the students or their call for accountability.

During the protests, Djokovic was careful not to identify with any political party. Instead, he consistently argued that students had every right to protest peacefully and seek answers from those in power.

His comments and actions drew renewed attention as India witnessed its own wave of student protests. Thousands of people took to the streets of New Delhi demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over exam paper leaks and concerns over the grading system.

The protests began last month after allegations of leaks in entrance medical examinations, a problem that has affected about two million applicants. Demonstrations intensified this week as tens of thousands of students marched on Parliament in Delhi. Police used tear gas and batons to disperse the protesters, injuring several people.

The movement has since spread beyond the state capital. Students have also staged protests in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Goa, Guwahati, Thiruvananthapuram, Jammu and Ahmedabad, keeping up pressure on the government as demands for accountability continue to mount.

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Issued by:

Saurabh Kumar

Published on:

22 Jul 2026 21:28 IST