The biggest off-court tennis news of the year wasn’t a coaching change or a new sponsorship—it was a seismic shift in residence. **Novak Djokovic**, the most successful male player in history, has officially relocated his family and his family-owned tournament, the Belgrade Open, to Athens, Greece.

While the Serbian government tensions have been cited as the primary catalyst, it was former rival and US Open champion **Andy Roddick** who delivered the ultimate breakdown of what this move truly means for Djokovic’s character.

The Unprecedented Act of Conviction

Speaking on his Served podcast, Roddick didn’t offer a surface-level comment. He offered a deeply personal observation that gets to the heart of Djokovic’s conviction:

“I have so much respect for Novak, for if he says something out loud and he believes it, he actually believes it. I mean, **he will move to Greece because of his belief system, and uproot everything.** He acts what he says all the time.”

Roddick’s quote is the defining sentiment of this story. For a player who has spent his entire career under intense scrutiny, the decision to uproot his life is a powerful validation of his non-conformist reputation.

Djokovic didn’t just move his family to the southern Athenian suburbs of Glyfada and enroll his children in a new school; he physically relocated his business—the **Belgrade Open (ATP 250)**—which is now known as the **Hellenic Championship** in Greece.

For one of the world’s most famous athletes to move his family and a significant business asset over a conflict of conscience is almost unheard of in modern sports. This move signals a willingness to sacrifice comfort and convenience for principle, confirming Roddick’s point: when Djokovic speaks on a topic, he stands by it, regardless of the cost.

The Belgrade to Athens Story

The tension began when Djokovic publicly backed massive student-led anti-corruption and anti-government protests in Serbia. His support was vocal and direct: “Serbia has enormous potential, and educated youth is its greatest strength. What we all need is understanding and respect.”

Following this public display, relations with the political establishment in his home country reportedly soured, leading to a decision to seek a new permanent residence.

Greece, which shares deep historical and cultural ties with Serbia, offered a welcoming home. Djokovic, who has frequently vacationed there and even met with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, quickly secured a new life in Athens. The city now hosts a major ATP event for the first time since 1994, all because a tennis superstar decided his conscience was more important than maintaining a comfortable status quo.

In a world where celebrity endorsements and political stances often ring hollow, Andy Roddick’s commentary cuts through the noise. His analysis reframes the move from a logistical change to a profound statement on integrity from one of the most polarizing and, ultimately, principled athletes of our time.