2023-05-31 18:28:58
“Kosovo, heart of Serbia”. Four words that were enough to raise the discontent against Novak Djokovic. The former world number 1 and favorite for Roland Garros used his first round victory in the Parisian Grand Slam to express his support for Serbia as tensions mount in the region.
“It’s a very sensitive subject. I am very touched as a Serb by what is happening in Kosovo and by the way our people have been practically forced out of our municipalities (…). I am the son of a man born in Kosovo, I feel an additional responsibility to give my support to our people and to all of Serbia “, had justified the man with 22 titles in Major at a press conference after -match.
Remarks to which the president of the tennis federation of Kosovo replied at the microphone of France Inter “We are deeply touched by the words of Novak Djokovic”. Jeton Hadergjonaj claims that “this is not the first time that Djokovic has done this”, a player who “continually provokes our country”, according to him.
An official request for sanction
In 2008, when Kosovo declared its independence, the Serb had already recorded a message in which he referred to this independence as “one of the most difficult in the history” of the country. “We are ready to defend what belongs to us”, assured the tennis player.
To put an end to the pass of arms with the Serb on this subject, the boss of the Kosovar federation is demanding a sanction. “We are going to officially ask Roland-Garros, as an organizer, to install a code of ethics to ask that Djokovic be punished,” he explained.
The French Tennis Federation, it had kicked in touch on the question of a sanction. “We’ll see, and talk to him to find out what he really meant. No precipitation. We are going to put things in perspective”, had already reacted Monday evening the director of the tournament Amélie Mauresmo, on the program “Coté court” of France televisions on Twitch.
In the absence of sanctions, Jeton Hadergjonaj has another solution: “If Kosovo is the heart of Serbia as he writes, if I see it, I will invite him to play for Kosovo in the Davis Cup. »
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