Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic has remained by his choice to send a political message about Kosovo at the French Open.
Djokovic said in a post on Monday following his victory in the first round, “Kosovo is the [heart symbol] of Serbia.” Stop the savagery” on a television camera focal point because of vicious conflicts in Kosovo.
Since Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, tensions have been rising. On Monday, protesters clashed with police in response to a contentious election that resulted in the installation of ethnic Albanian mayors.
Many NATO peacekeepers were harmed on Monday after conflicts emitted with Serbian demonstrators attempting to impede the recently chosen city hall leaders from getting down to business in the northern region of Zvecan.
Djokovic, whose father was born in Kosovo, stated this week that he felt compelled to “give my support to our people and to the entirety of Serbia.” Djokovic’s father was born in Kosovo.
His reference to the “entirety of Serbia” reflects Serbia’s policy of not recognizing Kosovo’s independence and still considering it to be an integral part of its territory.
CNN inquired about Djokovic’s desire for Kosovo to become part of Serbia earlier this week, but did not receive a response.
After defeating Márton Fucsovics of Hungary in the second round, Djokovic said, “Of course, I’m aware that a lot of people would disagree, but it is what it is.” I am committed to upholding it. So, that’s it.
He added that he had not discussed the incident with Amélie Mauresmo, the director of the French Open tournament.
On Tuesday, the Kosovan Olympic Panel (KOC) required the Global Olympic Board of trustees (IOC) and Worldwide Tennis Alliance (ITF) to make a disciplinary move against Djokovic
The KOC guaranteed that the 22-time huge homerun champion had “once more advanced the Serbian patriot promulgation and utilized the game stage to do as such,” in this manner raising “the degree of pressure and brutality between the two nations, Kosovo and Serbia.”
However, the ITF stated that players’ behavior at a grand slam is controlled by the relevant organizer’s grand slam rulebook, which contains “no provision… that prohibits political statements.”
Athletes, according to the IOC, are only subject to its authority during the Olympic Games.
At grand slam events, Djokovic is no stranger to controversy. At the Australian Open in January, he said that his dad, Srdjan, didn’t mean to help “any sort of war drives,” having been shot with a gathering of Russian allies at the Australian Open.
The 36-year-old was then deported from the country during the 2022 Australian Open after arriving in Melbourne unvaccinated against Covivirus-19.
He stated on Wednesday, “A drama-free grand slam, I don’t think it can happen for me.” I suppose that also drives me, you know.
On Friday, Djokovic will play Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the third round of the French Open. He is attempting to win his 23rd grand slam, one more than Rafael Nadal, who holds the record for most men’s titles.
