What Novak Djokovic He is one of the best tennis players in the world and does not admit of debate. That the Serbian is, among the greats, the one that generates the most controversy around him, either. The last one took place during the australian open, a country from which he was extradited last year for not having been vaccinated against Covid-19. On this occasion ‘Nole’ has been able to participate in the first Grand Slam of the year, which he has won nine times, and he is advancing firmly towards a new title. But the noise does not stop accompanying him.
After some moments of tension on the courts, such as a scuffle with a spectator, or in the press rooms, criticizing that while other players are given the benefit of the doubt when they claim to have physical problems, their discomfort always generates controversy, now it has It was his father who has returned to put the spotlights of controversy on him.
Djokovic’s parents, in the stands of Melbourne Park
Srdjan Djokovic, father of the tennis player, posed in Melbourne Park with fans who carried pro-Russian symbols, such as the letter ‘Z’ on their shirts, the same one that Russian armored vehicles wear in Ukraine, or a flag with the face of President Vladimir Putin. Furthermore, according to the local newspapers’The Age‘ y ‘The Sydney Morning Herald‘, Djokovic’s father says in Serbian ‘long live Russia’.
The video, already viral thanks to social networks, was recorded after the clash between the Serbian and the Russian Andrey Rublev in the quarterfinals, which left the Balkan in the semifinal round and launched towards the title.
Despite being prohibited by the organization of the Australian Open, during the clash it was possible to see pro-Russian symbolism in the stands. The move was taken last week after the display of Russian flags during a first-round match between Ukraine’s Kateryna Baindl and Russia’s Kamilla Rakhimova. The duel ended with the intervention of the local police at the request of the Ukrainian fans.
Also yesterday, at the end of the match between Djokovic and Rublev, the Australian police took center stage, questioning four fans precisely for displaying “inappropriate flags and symbols and for threatening security guards.”
A fan with a pro-Russian symbol on his jersey
Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, said it was “a shame.” “It’s the whole package. Among the Serbian flags there are: a Russian flag, Putin, the symbol Z, the flag of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic. It is a shame…”.
During the match between Djokovic and Rublev, a man cheering while wearing a black T-shirt with a white ‘Z’ was photographed by various agencies present at the Australian event.
The Australian Tennis Federation, organizer of the tournament, released an official statement in which it explained that “a small group of people displayed inappropriate flags and symbols and threatened security guards after a match and were evicted.”
“The players and their teams are aware of the event policy regarding flags and symbols to avoid any situation that could disturb the good atmosphere. We continue to work closely with security agencies,” he added.
The presence of these symbols dodging the organization’s ban and the posing of Novak Djokovic’s father also caused the reaction of the Ukrainian tennis player Marta Costuykwho answered through the social network Twitter using very expressive emoticons.
