cnn
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Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic has stood by his decision to send a political message about Kosovo at the French Open.
After his first round victory on Monday, Djokovic wrote: “Kosovo is the [heart symbol] from Serbia. Stop the violence” in the lens of a television camera in response to the violent clashes in Kosovo.
Tensions have risen in the past week in Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia in 2008. On Monday there were clashes with protesters over the installation of ethnic Albanian mayors in a disputed election.
Dozens of NATO peacekeepers were injured on Monday after clashes broke out with Serbian protesters trying to prevent newly elected mayors from taking office in the northern municipality of Zvecan.
Djokovic, whose father was born in Kosovo, said this week that he felt obliged to “give my support to our people and all of Serbia.”
His reference to “the whole of Serbia” reflects the policy of the Serbian government, which still considers Kosovo an integral part of its territory and has not recognized the country's independence.
Earlier this week, CNN asked Djokovic's representation for clarification to see if he wants Kosovo to be part of Serbia, but received no response.
“Of course, I'm aware that many people would disagree, but it is what it is,” Djokovic said Wednesday after his second-round victory against Hungarian Márton Fucsovics. “It's something I defend. So that's all.”
He added that he had not spoken to French Open tournament director Amélie Mauresmo about the incident.
On Tuesday, the Kosovo Olympic Committee (KOC) asked the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to take disciplinary action against Djokovic.
The KOC claimed that the 22-time Grand Slam champion had “once again promoted Serbian nationalist propaganda and used the sports platform to do so,” thus raising “the level of tension and violence between the two countries, Kosovo and Serbia.”
However, the ITF said player conduct at a Grand Slam is governed by the relevant organizer's Grand Slam rule book, in which there is “no provision… prohibiting political statements.”
The IOC stated that athletes are only under its authority during the Olympic Games.
Djokovic is no stranger to controversy at Grand Slam tournaments. At the Australian Open in January, he said his father, Srdjan, had no intention of supporting “any kind of war initiative” as he was filmed with a group of Russian fans at the Australian Open.
Then, at the 2022 Australian Open, the 36-year-old was deported from the country after arriving in Melbourne without being vaccinated against Covid-19.
“I don't think a Grand Slam can happen to me without drama,” he said Wednesday. “You know, I guess that motivates me too.”
Djokovic faces Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the third round of the French Open on Friday as he continues his bid to win a 23rd Grand Slam title, one more than Rafael Nadal at the top of the men's all-time list.
