Novak Djokovic's week at the ATP 250 event in Athens has turned into something more than just another stop on the calendar, this time in the closing stages. It has become a celebration of connection, legacy and revival.
The Greek capital is hosting an ATP event for the first time since 1994. It welcomed the 24-time Major winner with open arms, with Novak leaving in Athens with his family since September.
The Greek crowd has supported Djokovic en route to the final, transformingeach of his three encounters into a festival of passion. The shared energy reminded the Serb of home, a feeling he admitted does not happen often at this stage of his career.
Alongside his victories and the 144th ATP final in his CV, Novak took time to reflect on the symbolism of Athens' return to the ATP calendar. With Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari leading the way, Greek tennis has captured global attention.
Their results have not been good recently, but the new tournament can serve as a crucial next step. Always looking into the future, the Serb hopes the event will inspire a new generation of Greek players.
Thus, Djokovic sees the event as a platform for growth and discovery. For the spectators, having Novak compete on Greek soil is already historic. In addition, his presence has given Athens a powerful reminder of what tennis can mean to a nation ready to embrace it again.
It feels like a start of something special, and Djokovic stands right at the heart of it, with his brother also as the tournament director. The Serb will chase his 101st ATP title against Lorenzo Musetti in Saturday's final.
"In the last couple of years, I rarely play somewhere for the first time. Now, that's the case in Athens, where we had the previous tournament in 1994. The tennis perspective here is huge.
Greeks are very passionate about sports in general, especially football and basketball. With the success of Tsitsipas and Sakkari, tennis has gained great popularity.
The most important thing will be to see more kids start playing tennis after this tournament. That's the ultimate goal. I hope this is the beginning of something beautiful for the future of Greek tennis.
The crowd is incredible; it's like playing at home for me, and I'm really grateful. We have made an instant connection, and I'm enjoying an amazing week," Novak Djokovic said.
