Kosovo tennis officers to make criticism over Djokovic in French Open row
Djokovic courted controversy when he wrote on a TV digicam: “Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence.” The feedback got here amid rising pressure within the area.
The FFT mentioned they might not sanction the 22-time Grand Slam champion over his actions. But Jeton Hadergjonaj, head of the Kosovo Tennis Federation, will lodge an official criticism immediately.
He mentioned: “[Djokovic] suggested he has roots from Kosovo because his father was born [there]. He lived in the north part and in that part there is some trouble and some of the peacekeepers, international soldiers, were injured because Serbian people attacked them.
“Okay, Djokovic has some connections, he still has some family there, I think, and he visited that part. It’s understandable he’s connected, but Kosovo is an independent country recognised by ITF, Tennis Europe and the international community [yet] he continuously attacks us every time he can do it.
“According to the Olympics charter, the fundamental principle is that sporting organisations within the movement should apply political neutrality.”
Djokovic, who takes on Marton Fucsovics within the late match on Philippe-Chatrier tonight, additionally discovered himself caught up in one other spat.
Following Djokovic’s assembly with Cameron Norrie, who will play Lucas Pouille this afternoon, on the latest Italian Open, he accused the Briton of missing honest play after hitting him with an overhead shot and extreme fist pumping.
But Norrie hit again yesterday, saying: “I didn’t think I was in his face at all.”