Djokovic facing delay of four years in getting payments owed from Beijing Olympics by Serbian government
ATPTuesday, 15 August 2023 at 20:30
The Serbian
government owes payments to Novak Djokovic for the bronze medal he earned in
the Beijing Olympic Games.
A recent
development has extended the waiting period for Novak Djokovic's imminent owed
payments from the Serbian government. The delay was triggered by the belated
submission of pertinent documentation, pushing Djokovic's expected timeline by
another four years.
The news
comes from SportKlub, a prominent Balkan tabloid, which reports that Djokovic
is owed a sports pension for his achievement of securing a bronze medal at the
2008 Beijing Olympics. The stipulations at that time dictated that remittances
would take place once the athlete reached the age of 35.
The Serbian
Tennis Federation, responsible for overseeing the nation's tennis protocols,
failed to submit the necessary documents in a timely manner. As a result,
Djokovic's Olympic bronze medal failed to find a place among the nation's
portfolio of award winners. The application window had indeed closed a month
prior to the enforcement of the new regulations.
Celebrating
his 36th birthday at the close of May this year, Djokovic faces a kicker in
these regulations. They underwent an amendment in April 2009 when the
government raised the retirement age from 35 to 40.
Consequently,
the late application ceased to be viable after the new rules came into effect,
as Djokovic would have commenced receiving these payments in May 2022, when he
turned 35.
Given that ‘Nole’
has now reached 36 years, he has missed out on 14 months of sports pension
payments and is expected to forfeit an additional 36 months before reaching
retirement.
However,
Djokovic is unlikely to lose sleep over this. The 36-year-old player stands as
the highest prize money earner in tennis history, amassing over $170 million.
Beyond that, Djokovic secured more than $30 million through a range of
sponsorships and endorsement deals in 2022, ranking 23rd on Forbes' list of the
world's highest-paid athletes last year.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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