Novak Đoković lost the Miami Open final, and Aleksandar Vučić was unsure whether to rejoice or grieve over those two lost tie-breaks.
I understand that above his head, which has been restless in recent months, the dilemma still lingers in a dark cloud: Did the defeat in Miami shorten or prolong Nole’s career and the moment when the best tennis player of all time will return to the country where he was born and perhaps wish to be something else?
A president, for example.
Recently appearing on RTS (Radio Television of Serbia), the Serbian president, in response to a conciliatory question from the journalist about whether there were public figures who supported the students whom he personally valued, replied that there were none, and that they were all the same ones who had protested against lithium mining, mentioning Novak Đoković’s name among the first, with a facial expression that spoke volumes.
On the day of the major student and citizen protest in Belgrade, Vučić’s favorite tabloid, “Informer,” reacting to the support that the best tennis player of all time had given to the students, published an article titled: “ĐOKOVIĆ, SHAME ON YOU! Novak Supports Violence and a Colored Revolution!” in which the man who, more than anyone else in history, glorified Serbia’s name in the world is smeared like never before in a Serbian medium.
“Let us recall, this is not the first time that Đoković has sided with provocateurs and violent individuals who tried to create chaos in Serbia today. Recently, after his victory at the Australian Open against Czech player Tomáš Macháč, he wrote ‘Sonja’ on the camera, thus supporting a female student who was injured by a car driver on the sidewalk during the blockade of Mackenzie Street,” writes the unsigned (of course) journalist in this insane pamphlet, which mixes violent individuals and victims, and also reminds that Nole had other such “outbursts”:
“Before that, Đoković had expressed support for the students, and at one of Red Star Belgrade’s matches, he appeared in a sweatshirt that read ‘students are champions.'”
If it weren’t disgusting, it would be sad, but it is actually indicative and shows how the propaganda machinery of the current regime does not hesitate to attack the Greatest in defense of the achievements of the system that students and most citizens want to change.
And when we add several more commissioned media slanders from figures like Nebojša Krstić and editors of other tabloids, who do not bark at anyone by chance or of their own will, it is clear that their Editor-in-Chief is extremely nervous whenever Đoković’s name is mentioned.
Primarily because of his greatness and influence on public opinion, but also because of what lies ahead…
Although the tennis GOAT has never publicly expressed an intention to engage in politics, Vučić is obviously troubled by the fact that Novak’s name is increasingly mentioned in public as a future presidential candidate and president.
True, more like a collective mantra and prayer, without a real basis, but even that is enough to make the strings in the president’s head tremble.
And the people, as people, after the students restored their faith in life, freedom, and a better tomorrow, can easily pack “two in one,” students and Đoković as an unexpected force that suddenly appears and saves Serbia.
And all this in a situation where only one more act is missing for Vučić’s performance to end, and that one act could perhaps be Đoković’s appearance at the head of some future large student column or protest.
How realistic that is, time will tell.
The next presidential elections in Serbia should be held in 2027, unless Vučić again calls some extraordinary ones. In those elections, the current president should not be allowed to run, unless he changes the Constitution by then, which would not be a surprise.
By then, Đoković will probably have finished his exceptional career, so there is reason for some to worry and many to hope.
Of course, all in the event that the current protests do not transform Serbia before that. And it’s close…
Written by: Antonije Kovačević Photo: Agencies