In a surprising shift on the ATP calendar, the 2025 Belgrade Open will no longer be held in Serbia but will relocate to Athens, Greece, from 2–8 November.
The newly named ATP 250 Hellenic Championship will be held on indoor hard courts at the OAKA Basketball Arena, a versatile venue that hosted events during the 2004 Olympic Games and has previously staged major cultural events, including the Eurovision Song Contest.
The decision was made by the family of Novak Djokovic, who hold the tournament license and have organised the event since 2021.
Organisers explained via Instagram that the tournament could not go ahead in Belgrade due to an inability to secure the required conditions for the scheduled date and format.
Since 2021, the team has hosted nine professional tournaments in the Serbian capital under different brands, including five ATP 250 events and a range of WTA, Challenger, and ITF tournaments. Organisers say they remain committed to reviving professional tennis in Belgrade in the future.
However, media in Greece and Serbia have suggested the move may also reflect rising political tensions between Djokovic and the Serbian government. The rift reportedly deepened after Djokovic voiced support for student protests that erupted following the fatal collapse of a train station canopy in Novi Sad in late 2024, which killed 16 people.
Adding to speculation, Djokovic has recently met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis – twice in recent months – and is rumoured to be exploring relocation through Greece’s “golden visa” program.
The move not only brings an ATP event to Greece for the first time since 1994 but also signals a new chapter in Djokovic’s personal and professional affiliations.
Source: AS USA
