2023-05-30 23:18:01
PARIS (AP) — Novak Djokovic has drawn criticism from the Kosovo Tennis Federation but not from French Open organizers for his comments regarding clashes between ethnic Serbs in that Balkan nation with police and NATO peacekeepers.
Djokovic was born in Serbia, is 36 years old, has won 22 Grand Slam titles and plans to play his second round match at Roland Garros on Wednesday.
On Monday, following prevailing in a first round match, Djokovic wrote on the TV camera lens placed next to the pitch: “Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence.”
On Tuesday, the Kosovar federation called Djokovic’s comments “deplorable”, saying he was stoking tensions between Serbia and Kosovo.
Once a Serbian province, Kosovo declared its independence in 2008, although it is not recognized by Belgrade. Ethnic Albanians make up the majority of the population, but there is also a Kosovar Serb minority in the north, near the Serbian border.
NATO announced Tuesday it would send 700 more troops to northern Kosovo to help quell violent protests following clashes with Kosovo Serbs left 30 international soldiers injured.
Tensions had risen since the weekend following Kosovar Albanian officials, elected in elections boycotted by Kosovar Serbs, entered municipal buildings. When the Kosovar Serbs tried to stop him, the police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Speaking to reporters, Djokovic said Monday that what was written on the TV camera was “the least I might do.”
“I feel a responsibility, as a public figure… and as the son of a man born in Kosovo,” Djokovic said.
Without mentioning Djokovic by name, French Open organizers said in a statement on Tuesday that no rules had been broken.
“Occasionally, discussions of international news events fall within the scope of the tournament, which is understandable,” the organizers added.
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