Djokovic hails Serbia's student list after Vucic concedes election defeat

The vote and its result

Aleksandar Vucic conceded defeat on Sunday, 25 October, after a parliamentary election that pitted his right-wing party against a student-led opposition. That opposition ran as the Student List, drawn from a movement that had protested against his government for two years. According to 20 Minuten, the list contested the vote without a designated list leader. The result left Vucic's coalition behind the opposition list.

Djokovic's reaction in Basel

Djokovic spoke at a press conference on Tuesday, 27 October, at the Swiss Indoors in Basel, where he was asked about the election in his home country. He said he was very happy with the outcome and paid tribute to the young people who had taken part in the protests.

“My deepest respect to the students and young people that have fought, they have shown dignity and incredible resilience the last two years with humongous pressure.”

He also said the students had spread a feeling of pride well beyond Serbia's borders.

“They've managed to create this sense of pride in all the people, not just in Serbia but abroad as well.”

Djokovic, who lives in Greece, has backed the student protests on several occasions. He closed with a wish for the country.

“The victory is secured and we all now have hopes that our country will be prosperous and that we'll be enjoying the future that is coming.”

Djokovic's ties to the movement

Djokovic had voiced support for the anti-corruption movement in the summer of 2025, and his relations with Serbian authorities worsened afterwards. He was attacked by Vucic and pro-government media over those statements. Because of that pressure, he moved his family's usual residence to Athens last year. He has not lived in Serbia for roughly 20 years. Dejan Bodiroga, a 53-year-old former basketball player, also ran as a candidate on the Student List. Bodiroga starred for Real Madrid, Barcelona and Panathinaikos and is currently the top official of EuroLeague.

Basel and the Turin race

Djokovic is competing at the ATP 500 event in Basel, which runs from 26 October to 1 November, on a wild card. His first match there is against Ugo Humbert. He won his 102nd career title at the ATP 500 in Beijing in early October, then lost in the first round at Shanghai and dropped to 11th in the Race to Turin. The Race to Turin decides the eight players for the Masters, to be held from 15 to 22 November. Djokovic had first said he would play only the ATP 1000 event in Paris (2-8 November), but Rafael Jodar and Alex de Minaur have since overtaken him in the race. Winning in Basel would bring a 103rd ATP title, matching Roger Federer's total, and he returns to the Halle Saint-Jacques on Wednesday, 28 October, for the first time since 2011.