“No Grand Slam without drama”
Defiant Novak Djokovic defends Kosovo statement
6/1/2023 7:14 am
Almost everywhere Novak Djokovic appears, the Serb leaves a trail of devastation behind him. Sometimes it’s about his vaccination status and sometimes about his political convictions. This causes a lot of trouble at the French Open 2023 and escalates far up. “It is what it is,” says Djokovic.
Novak Djokovic has defended his controversial political statements about Kosovo despite numerous critical voices. “Many will not agree with me, but it is how it is. It is something I stand by,” said the 36-year-old after his three-set win in the second round of the French Open against Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics.
“I could repeat it, but I won’t do it. There doesn’t seem to be a Grand Slam without drama for me – but that also drives me,” said Djokovic, who then did not want to comment further on the subject. Djokovic’s statements were criticized as “inappropriate” by French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera on Wednesday. “That must not be repeated,” said Oudea-Castera at France 2, Djokovic’s message was “militant” and “very political”.
The National Olympic Committee of Kosovo also demanded a reaction from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and tried to obtain disciplinary proceedings against Djokovic. Later, the Kosovan tennis association also demanded sanctions against Djokovic by the tennis world association ITF.
World Association does not ban political statements
The ITF then spoke up and told the AFP news agency that “political statements” by athletes were not prohibited. The rules of conduct for players in Grand Slam tournaments are the responsibility of the organizers. “There is no provision in these rules that prohibits players from making political statements,” it said.
After winning the first round in Paris, the Serbian Grand Slam record champion wrote on the camera lens that Kosovo was the “heart of Serbia” and added “stop the violence”. The background to the controversial comment is the recent riots in Kosovo, in which around 30 soldiers from the international security force KFOR were injured.
Djokovic later admitted at a press conference that it was a “sensitive issue”. As a public figure and the son of a father who was born in Kosovo, he feels a special responsibility towards the Serbian people, the 36-year-old said. But he is not a politician and does not want to start a debate, he added.