Djokovic sparks controversy with Kosovo remarks
Novak Djokovic risked causing a political row at Roland Garros by writing a statement appearing to deny Kosovo’s independence.
Scribbling on the camera lens after his straight-sets win over Aleksandar Kovacevic, Djokovic wrote: “Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop violence.”
Kosovo – a former province of Serbia, mainly populated by ethnic Albanians – has been Nato-backed since 1999 and declared independence in 2008.
However Serbia has refused to recognise its statehood and tensions between the two regions have flared in recent days, with several injured in violent clashes between Kosovo’s police, Nato-led peacekeepers and local Serbs.
After his match, Djokovic told Serbian newspaper Blic that he felt “responsible” to speak out.
“I am not a politician and I have no intention of getting into political debates,” Djokovic said. “As a Serb, it hurts me a lot what is happening in Kosovo, our people who are expelled from the municipalities. The least I could do is this, I feel responsible as a public figure and the son of a man who was born in Kosovo, I feel the need to show support to all of Serbia.”
However, Djokovic’s comments provoked a furious backlash from Kosovans on social media.
Djokovic’s father, Srdjan, was raised in a small mining town in Kosovo and has expressed similar views to his son in the past.
Earlier this month Djokovic, the 22-time major champion, told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera that he wanted to go back to Kosovo to baptise his children.
Kosovo’s independence has been recognised by more than 100 countries, including the UK, as well as sporting bodies including the International Tennis Federation and Fifa.
There is no rule in either the Association of Tennis Professionals or ITF grand slam rulebooks which specifically blocks players from making political statements. And Djokovic told the Serbian press he “would do it again”, regardless of the consequences. “I have no reservations, I am against wars and any conflict,” he said.