Novak Djokovic’s political message about Kosovo being the ‘heart of Serbia’ has shocked the country, talkSPORT has been told.
The tennis icon made the statement after his first round win at the French Open, which has sparked a backlash and led to calls that he should be punished.
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Serbian national Djokovic saw off American Aleksandar Kovacevic in straight sets but afterwards, rather than writing his signature on the TV camera lens, he instead wrote ‘Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence’, and also drew a heart.
It comes after rising tensions between the two nations, which has seen violence in the north of Kosovo with ethnic Serbs clashing with police in protests over the recent election of ethnic Albanian officials.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, but the Serbian authorities have never formally recognised it, and Djokovic has been accused of stirring up the conflict with his comments.
President of the Kosovo Tennis Federation – Jeton Hadergjonaj – joined talkSPORT to discuss the events and says the world No.3’s timing could not have been worse.
And with Kosovans now calling for the International Tennis Federation [ITF] and ATP tour to punish Djokovic for his actions, Hadergjonaj revealed official action against him is underway.
“Doing it at the French Open was shocking for us – it’s one of the four biggest tournaments in the world – and especially at a time when the tensions between the two nations are high,” Hadergjonaj told White and Jordan.
“We are expecting that this year we will have a final agreement between Kosovo and Serbia and everything will be solved peacefully, but Djokovic’s comments, writing on the camera, his declaration in his post-match press conference and his Instagram and other media, they were deeply regrettable events.
“The Kosovo Tennis Federation is a full member of the ITF and also part of our national Olympic Committee, which is part of the International Olympic Committee – and that means we have to react.
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“Because according to the Olympic charter, it’s a fundamental principle that sporting organisations within the Olympic movement shall apply political neutrality, and you cannot make this political statement in such a big event, especially now where the Russia and Ukraine war is ongoing and with raised tensions between Kosovo and Serbia.
“Personally I don’t feel outraged by it, because there are Serbs who now agree with the real situation, who think Kosovo is independent now and they only have to take care of Serbia – but I wonder why Djokovic is not accepting of this.
“He is a real champion, but he has to understand that he can’t provoke Kosovo any time he wants.
“I don’t think he’ll do it again because he had talks with the organisers of Roland Garros, but we are preparing our official request to the French Tennis Federation and ITF for Djokovic to be penalised and to get a fine, because there were a lot of things wrong with his declarations.
“Just imagine if, let’s say, Daniil Medvedev goes and says ‘Crimea is Russia’…”
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Hadergjonaj also pointed to Djokovic’s Kosovan roots, and said he will send a tongue-and-cheek request for the 22-time Grand Slam champion to join their Davis Cup team ‘if he loves Kosovo so much’.
“Since he has roots in Kosovo, his father was born in Kosovo, I don’t understand why it’s taking so long for him to realise Kosovo is independent now,” Hadergjonaj added.
“He has to accept it and we have to continue to work together for the benefits of tennis.
“And if I see him soon, and he loves Kosovo so much, I’m going to offer him a place to play for Kosovo in the Davis Cup.
“Why not? Since he loves Kosovo – let’s play!”
Source: TalkSport.com Tennis
