Novak Djokovic caught in another political controversy as he meets with right-wing Argentina President

Novak Djokovic made headlines for his off-court engagements during his visit to Argentina. The Serbian tennis icon met with Argentina's far-right President Javier Milei on Monday (Dec. 2), just a day after playing an exhibition match at Parque Roca that marked the farewell of his friend and fellow player Juan Martin del Potro.

The Serb's visit to Argentina was a bustling affair, with several significant engagements lined up. Upon arriving in the country, he made a stop at the Monumental Stadium, where he was tasked with presenting the trophy at the Copa Libertadores final, where Botafogo clinched a 3-1 victory over Atletico Mineiro.

The following day, he turned his attention to tennis, participating in El Ultimo Desafio (The Last Challenge), an exhibition match dedicated to former World No. 3 del Potro.

Held at Parque Roca, the match saw del Potro edge out Djokovic 6-4, 7-5 in front of a jubilant home crowd. The two friends embraced warmly at the net afterward, symbolizing the end of an era for del Potro, whose career was plagued by injuries.

After fulfilling his commitments to Del Potro, Djokovic requested a meeting with President Javier Milei. Known for his far-right libertarian views and controversial policies, Milei has been a polarizing figure in Argentine politics. His rejection of progressive taxation and climate science, along with his confrontational style, has drawn comparisons with newly-elected U.S. President Donald Trump.

The meeting took place at the Quinta de Olivos, the official residence of the Argentine president, under heavy security. The Serb arrived at 05:20 pm on Monday, escorted by the City Police, and the meeting lasted for more than an hour (via Associated Press).

The Serbian superstar had specifically requested the meeting, and sources reported that their discussion lasted over an hour.

Check out the video of the Serb's arrival at the Quinta de Olivos:

The Serb's meeting with Milei sparked a wave of strong reactions across social media. Here’s a look at some of them:

"The guy who 1) cozies up with Serbian war criminals, 2) doesn't recognize Kosovo's autonomy, and 3) became a symbol of the antivax movement is... meeting with a far-right president? What a twist!" a user wrote.

"Dokovic is a dum**ss nationalist who has nothing to do with "defending freedom", to some he seems "pro-freedom" only insofar as being anti-West. But it's an interesting development in any case," another user wrote.

The meeting between the Serb and Milei was not widely publicized, and no official images were released.

Novak Djokovic previously stirred controversy by writing the message "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence" during the traditional post-match camera signing following his straight-set victory over Aleksandar Kovacevic at the 2023 French Open. His statement referenced the unrest and violence that erupted in Kosovo after local elections held in April that year.

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"Don't feel this is a world where I would thrive" - Novak Djokovic denies interest in political endeavors

Novak Djokovic (Image source: Getty)

Novak Djokovic has made it clear that he currently has no plans to enter politics, despite his significant popularity in Serbia.

Speaking in an exclusive interview on CBS's 60 Minutes in December 2023, Djokovic stated that he has no political aspirations at this time and is instead focused on his tennis career and humanitarian efforts.

The Serb has donated millions to causes like education, health and sports development, earning him widespread admiration. When he returned to Belgrade in September after winning the 2023 US Open, thousands of fans welcomed him.

However, despite his popularity sparking rumors of a political career, Djokovic has firmly denied any interest in politics.

"I do not have any political inspirations at the moment," the Serb said. "I don't feel that this is a world or an environment where I would thrive. But I do think that my popularity in the country and in the region can be used for some other things where I can help contribute to life and society."

During a post-match press conference at the 2015 ATP World Tour Finals, Novak Djokovic stated that he could contribute far more to his country, Serbia, without entering the political arena.