Novak Djokovic has rejected widely spread reports claiming he was in talks with the widow of the late Spanish tennis legend Manolo Santana to take over his club in Marbella.
On Wednesday, 13th December, there were claims that the current World No. 1 was considering a deal with Claudia Santana and her family to acquire the Manolo Santana Racquets Club in Marbella, Spain. Santana, a four-time Grand Slam champion, passed away at the age of 83 on 11th December 2021.
Since his passing, his assets have remained untouched and safeguarded. As per the reports, Claudia Santana and her son Christian are facing challenges in managing the struggling club, prompting Djokovic's supposed interest in preserving both the facility and Manolo Santana's legacy.
Nevertheless, the 36-year-old has outrightly denied these reports in a post on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, simply stating: "Fake news…"
Novak Djokovic established his own tennis academy, the 'Novak Tennis Centre', in Belgrade, Serbia, which has been operational for the past 15 years. Recent reports from Serbia indicated that on June 1, he started relinquishing control of the academy, returning it to the city.
Previously, the Novak Tennis Centre hosted seven ATP and one WTA tournaments, along with several lower-tier events.
Ahead of the 2024 season, Novak Djokovic has commenced his pre-season training in Marbella, Spain.
Having concluded one of his most triumphant years, the Serbian tennis ace secured three Grand Slam titles - the Australian Open, French Open, and the US Open - and made it to the final of the Wimbledon Championships. He also claimed victories at the ATP Finals, Cincinnati Open, Paris Masters, and the Adelaide International, winning an impressive 56 out of 63 ATP Tour-level matches.
At 36 years old, Djokovic has already started gearing up for the upcoming season, recently seen at an undisclosed tennis training facility in Marbella, Spain, where he has resided since 2020. According to an Instagram post, he engaged in routine drills and rallied with amateur players on hard courts.
The seasoned Serbian player will initiate his 2024 ATP Tour season by participating in the United Cup in Australia. He will represent his country at this international tournament, partnering with promising talents Olga Danilovic and Hamad Medjedovic.
This event will act as preparation for the Grand Slam title defence at the 2024 Australian Open, where Djokovic aims to continue his success.
