Serbian Star Faces Backlash Over Remarks on Kosovo Conflict After French Open Victory
Novak Djokovic, the Serbian tennis champion, has sparked controversy with comments made following his first-round victory at the French Open, drawing criticism from Kosovo’s tennis federation. The 36-year-old, who has won 22 Grand Slam titles, made the remarks after his win on Monday, when he wrote on a courtside TV camera lens: “Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence.”
Djokovic’s comments came amid rising tensions in northern Kosovo, where clashes between ethnic Serbs and Kosovo police, along with NATO peacekeepers, have escalated. Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia in 2008, is not recognised by Belgrade, and tensions between ethnic Albanians and the Serb minority remain high, particularly in the north of the country.
The Kosovo Tennis Federation quickly condemned Djokovic’s statement, calling it “deplorable” and accusing him of exacerbating the already fraught political situation between the two nations. While the French Open organisers have not responded publicly, Djokovic’s remarks have caused significant stir in the region.
The situation in Kosovo became more volatile over the weekend when ethnic Albanian officials, elected in a vote largely boycotted by Serbs, entered municipal buildings. Kosovo police responded by using tear gas to disperse Serb protesters who tried to block the officials from taking office. NATO has since pledged to send an additional 700 troops to help stabilise the situation, after violent protests left 30 international soldiers injured.
Djokovic, who is scheduled to play in the second round of Roland Garros on Wednesday, defended his actions in a subsequent interview, stating that expressing his opinion was “the least I could do.” The tennis star, who has previously spoken about his connection to Kosovo, added: “I feel a responsibility as a public figure, as well as a son of a man who was born in Kosovo.”
