The Roland-Garros tournament got off to a rather tricky start in geopolitical terms… On Sunday, the more than tense end of the match between the Belarusian Sabalenka and the Ukrainian Kostyuk placed the debate on the ground of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the the enmity that has reigned between the players involved in the dispute for more than a year.
But that was almost nothing compared to the message delivered by world No. 3 Novak Djokovic after Monday’s victory against American Kovacevic. As is customary, the Serb took a marker after the match to write a few words on camera.
Except that the phrase in question had nothing to do with thanks, jokes or hearts to viewers. The Belgradois wrote “Kosovo je srce Srbije. Stop nasilju! “, that is to say “Kosovo is the heart of Serbia, stop the violence! “, while relations between Serbia and Kosovo have been marked in recent weeks by a new resurgence of tensions.
Words reminiscent of the nationalist slogan “Kosovo I Srbija”, “Kosovo is Serbia”, used by opponents of Kosovo’s independence since 2008 and regularly sung in rallies. “As the son of a man born in Kosovo, I feel a responsibility to support our people and all of Serbia,” Djokovic explained at a press conference.
The fact remains that the ethical charter of the French Tennis Federation is clear and prohibits any political claim on the ground. The FFT therefore found itself under the fire of questions about possible sanctions to be taken against the one who is in search this fortnight of a 23rd Grand Slam.
Embarrassed at the corners, the federation took twenty-four hours to publish a press release in a sublime language of a wood as sturdy as that of the benches which adorn the aisles. We are always looking for the interest…
“The debates which cross the international news sometimes invite themselves on the sidelines of the tournament, it is understandable, write the organizers. We regularly discuss this subject within the Grand Slam Board, which brings together the four Grand Slam tournaments. The rules that apply are common to the four tournaments, and the referee, together with the Grand Slam supervisors, ensures that they are respected. Messages have been sent to the teams of the players concerned in this regard. »
Move along, nothing to see. We are therefore waiting for other resonances of international news on the courts of the Porte d’Auteuil to see if the tournament decides to beef up its game…
