Visa Cancellation Only Polishes Djokovic’s Martyr Image in Balkans

But, for a  post-war society, eager to prove itself on the world stage, Djokovic's meteoric success has come as a godsend. 

If this is the case, then the events of the past two weeks, no matter how embarrassing for the world's no 1 tennis player, are unlikely to have changed local hearts and minds.

But it would be a major mistake to conclude that the region has stood behind Djokovic for such a prosaic reason as the place he happened to be born in.

It may well be that many people in the Balkans have fallen in
love with the greatest regional sports figure in living memory because - rather than despite the fact that - he happens to be Novak Djokovic.

This is not to say they agree with everything he stands for, let alone his vaccine scepticism and well-documented displays of Serbian nationalism. Unlike Djokovic, most people in the region are vaccinated and would think twice before associating themselves with World War II Serbian Chetnik leader Draza Mihajlovic. 

Yet, despite his occasional flirtations with the idea of a "Greater Serbia", Djokovic, paradoxically, has region-wide appeal in a part of the world that is not known for sharing role models. 

With the possible exception of Kosovo, ex-Yugoslav countries are virtually united in their affection for Djokovic, as evidenced by the recent pro-Djokovic demonstrations in Zadar, a right-wing stronghold in Croatia.

Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic (C) departs from the Park Hotel government detention facility before attending a court hearing at his lawyers office in Melbourne. Photo: EPA-EFE/JAMES ROSS

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