“I am only here to support my son. I didn’t mean to make headlines or cause any disruption […]. So that there is no disruption during the semi-final for my son or for his opponent, I chose to watch the match from home, ”wrote Srdjan Djokovic in a press release.
“No intention of being dragged into this turmoil”
In his press release, Srdjan Djokovic explains his vision of the incident. “I was outside with the Novak fans like I did after all of my son’s matches to celebrate his wins and take pictures with them. I had no intention of being drawn into this turmoil,” he says.
Wednesday, after the quarter-final match won Wednesday evening by Novak Djokovic against Russian Andrey Rublev, Srdjan Djokovic was filmed with supporters waving pro-Russian flags during the Australian Open Tennis. Russian and Belarusian flags are prohibited during the tournament.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MCPYdm8kZM
A video later posted on an Australian pro-Russian YouTube channel showed the player’s father posing in the company of a man waving a flag with Putin’s face on it. All with the caption: “Novak Djokovic’s father makes a bold political statement”.
“Throughout the tournament, we have spoken with the players and their teams about the importance of not engaging in any activities that may cause disruption,” FA said, taking note of Srdjan’s statement. Djokovic. “We reiterate the ban on the flags of Belarus and Russia. »
“Upsetting”
Earlier on Friday, the Ukrainian ambassador in Canberra had demanded that the organizers of the Australian Open withdraw the accreditation of the father of the Serbian tennis player. “He should have his accreditation withdrawn. It’s up to Novak and his team to take charge and settle this, ”was indignant Vasyl Myroshnychenko.
He also called Novak Djokovic, who was preparing to face the American Tommy Paul in the semi-finals of the tournament, to personally apologize and clarify his position on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. “It is important that Novak addresses this situation,” he stressed. “He should apologize for what happened and condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine.”
