The best tennis player of all time, Novak Djokovic, has found himself the target of fierce criticism of the regime in Serbia and people associated with the regime, all because of his support for student protests and activism against the government of Aleksandar Vučić.
After losing to Carlos Alcaraz in the Australian Open final, Djokovic sent a message to the public in Serbia:
"A message for our people in Serbia: Justice and truth always win. May they persevere."
This was quickly followed by a reaction from former Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia Zorana Mihajlović, who attacked Novak, questioning his education and accusing him of aiming for a political career.
"Too pathetic. No matter how great an athlete he is, the message is being sent by a man who barely finished elementary school and was expelled from high school. So what would he do, lead the country? Use his own children in a political campaign?" Mihajlović wrote on social media.
In another post, she additionally called out the best tennis player of all time: "A message for exactly which people - those in a country where you don't pay taxes, which isn't Serbia! Or those you use in Serbia to become a politician?"
Zorana Mihajlović retired from politics in 2023. She was a long-time member of Aleksandar Vučić's Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and served as Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia.
Djokovic has on several occasions supported students protesting against Aleksandar Vučić. Last year, he said that "Serbia is on the brink of civil war" and that "we need to support students because they are the future."
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