Djokovic returns to play after Wimbledon, facing a former Grand Slam champion.

Novak Djokovic put on a remarkable show at Wimbledon, advancing to the semifinals before falling to eventual champion Jannik Sinner.

Just a few days after concluding his journey at Wimbledon 2026, Novak Djokovic returned to the tennis court by participating in an exhibition match in Medjugorje (Bosnia & Herzegovina) to celebrate the inauguration of the Ivan Dodig Tennis Center.

The event gathered many prominent names in Balkan tennis. Besides Djokovic, there were 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic, former world number one in doubles Mate Pavic, center owner Ivan Dodig, and legend Boris Becker. In the exhibition match, Djokovic paired with Pavic against the duo of Dodig and Cilic, creating a lively and friendly atmosphere.

This is the first time Djokovic has appeared on court since his loss to Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon semifinal. The Serbian player once again missed out on his 25th career Grand Slam title after losing to the Italian star, marking the second consecutive year he was stopped by Sinner in the semifinals of a Grand Slam on grass.

Before being eliminated, Nole had an impressive run at the All England Club, defeating Wu Yibing, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Arthur Rinderknech, Roman Safiullin, and Felix Auger-Aliassime in succession. Meanwhile, Sinner later successfully defended his Wimbledon title by beating Alexander Zverev in the final, thereby reaffirming his status as one of the world's top players.

The event in Medjugorje also marked a memorable milestone for Ivan Dodig. The former Croatian player once reached No. 29 in ATP singles rankings but made a stronger mark in doubles with seven Grand Slam titles. Building a tennis center named after himself is seen as Dodig's effort to contribute to the development of tennis in the region.

Djokovic's presence once again demonstrates his close ties with the Balkan tennis community. Over the years, the 24-time Grand Slam champion has maintained close friendships with many Croatian stars, notably Marin Cilic and especially Goran Ivanisevic, who was his coach from 2019 to 2024.

After a period of relaxation in Bosnia & Herzegovina, Novak Djokovic is expected to enter the preparation phase for the North American hard court season. The former world number one's next goal is to conquer the US Open, where he aims for his fifth title in New York and continues to pursue the 25th Grand Slam milestone of his career.