While Djokovic spends another night in detention until his court hearing on Monday Djokovic's wife, Jelena, posted a photo on Instagram of the couple embracing on a beach to mark Orthodox Christmas, saying "the only law that we should all respect across every single border is love and respect for another human being."
His family held an emotional news conference at his restaurant in Belgrade on Thursday before protesting in front of parliament, with his father Srdjan saying "they are stomping all over Novak to stomp all over Serbia."
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic accused the Australian government of harassment and persecution, allegations rejected by Canberra.
The number 1 tennis player in the world is an Orthodox Christian, and he does not hesitate to say it publicly. It is not uncommon to observe Novak Djokovic invoking Christ during a meeting or wearing a cross around his neck to witness his faith.
For him, his religious beliefs come before the many championships that he’s acquired since the beginning of his career.
“This is the most important title of my life because before being an athlete, I am an Orthodox Christian,” he said in April 2011, when he received the order of St. Sava in the first degree from the hands of Irenaeus, the Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
The order of St. Sava is the highest distinction in the Serbian Orthodox Church, and it was given to him especially for having contributed financially to the renovation of religious buildings in his native land, Serbia.
As a faithful Christian who lived out his childhood in a country rife with violent conflict — the war between Bosnia and Herzegovina lasted from 1992 to 1995 — Novak Djokovic has never lost sight of his roots. And this is surely welcomed by his wife Jelena, whom he began dating in 2005, when they attended the same high school in Belgrade.
They took their marriage vows before God in July 2014, and their two children are named Stefan (3 years old) and Tara (4 months old). We can imagine their home would be an excellent school to learn not only tennis but also generosity.
A multi-millionaire thanks to his tournament winnings and numerous advertising contracts, Novak Djokovic willingly puts his fortune at the service of the underprivileged and helps causes that are dear to him. Judge for yourself. Last December, the Novak Djokovic Foundation, of which he is one of the main benefactors, contributed 94,000 euros for the renovation of a school in Pozega (Serbia).
Calls are increasing on social media for Novak Djokovic not to be deported from Australia after the tennis superstar donated $25,000 to bushfire victims two years ago.
World number one was widely celebrated when he generously matched fellow tennis star Maria Sharapova's financial pledge to help out those who saw their properties destroyed and livelihoods ruined.
Novak Djokovic Foundation
"The Novak Djokovic Foundation has done their part to support those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier this year, the Djokovic family announced a €1 million donation for the purchase of ventilators and equipment to support…. battle against COVID-19." 05 Dec 2020
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