Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic has been accused of fueling tensions in Kosovo amid violent protests in the region after sharing a political message following his first-round win at the French Open on Monday.
After defeating Aleksandar Kovacevic, Djokovic wrote a message on a camera lens that read: «Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence.»
Novak Djokovic of Serbia serves against Aleksandar Kovacevic of the United States during their men’s singles first round match at the 2023 French Open at Roland Garros on May 29, 2023 in Paris. (Christian Liewig/Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)
The message was received by some as an expression of support for the ethnic Kosovo Serbs who clashed with police and NATO peacekeepers this week, when demonstrations broke out after newly elected ethnic Albanian officials tried to enter municipal buildings in the northern region.
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«The comments made by Novak Djokovic at the end of his Roland Garros match against Aleksandar Kovacevic, his statements in the post-match press conference and his post on Instagram are regrettable,» Kosovo Tennis Federation President Jeton Hadergjonaj said in a statement, via Reuters.
Novak Djokovic from Serbia writes in Serbian on a camera lens a political statement: «Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence.» He was referring to the tensions between Kosovo and Serbia after their first round victory at the 2023 French Open on May 29, 2023 in Paris. (fake images)
«Novak Djokovic was already the author of similar actions in the past. Despite a general message against violence, the statement ‘Kosovo is the heart of Serbia’ and other post-match statements, made by such a public figure, on the occasion of a world event like the French Open, directly result in an increase in the level of tension between the two states, Serbia and Kosovo.»
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In a post-match press conference, Djokovic explained that his ties to Kosovo prompted him to make the statement. He also reiterated his stance against the war.
«As the son of a man born in Kosovo, I feel the need to support our people and all of Serbia,» he told reporters via Reuters. “My position is clear: I am against wars, violence and any type of conflict, as I have always said publicly. I empathize with everyone, but the situation in Kosovo is a precedent in international law.»
Novak Djokovic of Serbia during a men’s singles first round match against Aleksandar Kovacevic of the United States at Roland Garros on May 29, 2023 in Paris. (Andy Cheung/Getty Images)
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Recent violence dates back to the 1998 conflict in Kosovo. A former province of Serbia, Kosovo’s 2008 declaration of independence is not recognized by Belgrade. Ethnic Albanians make up the majority of the population, but Kosovo has a restive Serb minority in the north of the country that borders Serbia.
At least 30 NATO peacekeepers have been injured in recent clashes.
Associated Press contributed to this report.