“He’s Serbian”: Pope Leo XIV corrects Montenegro president over Novak Djokovic

Wednesday, 07 October 2026 at 23:30

A brief exchange between the president of Montenegro and Pope Leo XIV has put Novak Djokovic at the center of an unexpected conversation about his national identity. During their meeting, Montenegro's president told the pope that the tennis star is from Montenegro, prompting a simple response from Leo XIV: “He's Serbian.”

The comment came as Djokovic continues to make headlines after another remarkable week on the tennis court. The 39-year-old recently won the Beijing title, defeating Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev before facing Alex de Minaur in the final. His victory gave him another major milestone in a career that has continued to produce records well into his late thirties.

The Montenegro connection is not entirely unexpected. Djokovic was born in Belgrade and has represented Serbia throughout his professional career, but his family also has roots in Montenegro. That connection was enough for the country's president to mention Djokovic while speaking with the pope, adding that the Serbian star is also very fond of Montenegro.

The exchange comes at a particularly interesting moment for Djokovic, who has once again demonstrated that age has done little to prevent him from competing for major titles. His Beijing triumph was his first trophy of 2026 and came after a tournament in which he defeated one of the world's best players and advanced through two further matches that ended prematurely.

🇲🇪🇻🇦 Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović tried to claim Novak Djokovic as Montenegrin while presenting a racket with his country’s symbols in the Vatican. Cardinal Parolin corrected him on the spot and stated that Djokovic is from Serbia. https://t.co/wqYARYBP8S
— Based Serbia (@SerbiaBased) October 4, 2026

Djokovic continues to defy his age in Beijing

Djokovic returned to Beijing for the first time in 11 years and left with his seventh title at the tournament. His toughest completed match came against Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals, where he recovered from losing the opening set to win 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

The Serbian was particularly effective behind his first serve, winning 82% of those points. He also produced the decisive break in the 10th game of both the second and third sets, each time when Zverev was serving to stay in the set.

His semifinal against Daniil Medvedev ended in unusual circumstances, with Djokovic leading 7-5, 5-3 when the Russian was disqualified after hitting a ball that struck a spectator. Alex de Minaur then retired in the final after losing the opening-set tiebreak and falling 1-0 behind in the second set.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia holds up the champion trophy during the awarding ceremony for the men's singles final at the 2026 China Open

Djokovic therefore technically defeated three top-10 players during the week, although only the victory over Zverev came in a completed match. That distinction matters when assessing his current level, particularly because Djokovic has continued to deal with an undisclosed health issue that he says has affected him for much of the season.

Even so, his Beijing record is extraordinary. Djokovic has won all seven editions of the tournament in which he has competed, taking his record to 34-0.

Djokovic adds two more records to his career

The Beijing title was Djokovic's 102nd singles trophy and his first of the 2026 season. It also produced a record that no player had previously achieved, as he became the first man in tennis history to win at least one singles title in 21 consecutive seasons.

Djokovic also extended his remarkable winning streak in Beijing. His victory over Zverev gave him 32 consecutive wins at the tournament without a defeat, surpassing Rafael Nadal's previous Open Era record of 31 straight victories at a single men's singles tournament at Roland Garros.

After the semifinal and final, Djokovic's Beijing record moved to 34-0, giving him three more consecutive victories at the tournament than Nadal managed in Paris.

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His 102nd title also moved him within one trophy of Roger Federer, who finished his career with 103 singles titles. Jimmy Connors remains the all-time leader with 109, but Federer is now the more immediate target as Djokovic continues to add titles approaching his 40th birthday.

For all the records, questions remain about how long Djokovic can continue playing at this level. His Beijing title provided another emphatic answer on the court, while the unexpected conversation involving Montenegro's president and Pope Leo XIV offered a very different reminder of the attention that still surrounds one of tennis' most recognizable figures.

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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