Novak Djokovic doubles down on controversial Kosovo political statement he wrote on camera

Novak Djokovic has come under fire for a political message he wrote on a camera after his French Open win. But the Serbian superstar has defended his statement.

Novak Djokovic courted controversy on Monday when he wrote “Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence” on a camera at the French Open after clashes flared in northern Kosovo amid ethnic tensions.

The Belgrade-born tennis superstar wrote the message in Serbian after his opening round victory over Aleksandar Kovacevic on the showpiece Philippe Chatrier Court at Roland Garros.

“Kosovo is our cradle, our stronghold, centre of the most important things for our country... “There are many reasons why I wrote that on the camera,” 36-year-old Djokovic told Serb media at the tournament.

NATO-led peacekeepers on Monday dispersed Serb protesters who again clashed with police in northern Kosovo to demand the removal of recently elected Albanian mayors, as ethnic tensions flared in the Balkan nation.

Around 25 soldiers were injured during the clashes, along with over 50 demonstrators.

Kosovo’s Serbs had boycotted last month’s elections in the northern towns, which allowed ethnic Albanians to take control of local councils despite a minuscule turnout of under 3.5 percent of voters.

Novak Djokovic wrote a controversial message on a camera. Picture: AFP

Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s government officially installed the mayors last week, defying calls to ease the tensions by the European Union and the United States, which have both championed the territory’s 2008 independence from Serbia.

“I am not a politician and I have no intention to engage in political debates, it is a very sensitive topic,” added Djokovic.

“Of course it hurts me very much as a Serb to see what is happening in Kosovo and the way our people have been practically expelled from the municipal offices, so the least I could do was this.

“As a public figure but also a son of a man who was born in Kosovo I feel additional responsibility to express my support to our people and Serbia as a whole.

“I have no remorse and would do it again as my stance is clear. I am against war, violence and conflict of any kind and I have always publicly shown that. Of course I have sympathy for all people but what is happening with Kosovo is a precedent in international law.”

Ukranian booed in bizarre scene

Aryna Sabalenka won a politically-charged French Open duel against Marta Kostyuk on Sunday as jeers and boos rained down on the defeated Ukrainian who refused to shake hands with her Belarusian opponent.

World number two and Australian Open champion Sabalenka swept 10 of the last 12 games to win 6-3, 6-2 as she kick-started her push to reach the second week in Paris for the first time.

Kostyuk honoured her pledge not to shake hands with Sabalenka in protest at Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Belarus is a key military ally of Moscow.

Marta Kostyuk shakes hands with the umpire after her loss. Picture: Getty Images

She did not shake hands with Aryna Sabalenka. Picture: Getty Images

The 20-year-old Kostyuk, who has been a vociferous critic of the decision to allow Russian and Belarusian players to keep competing on tour since the invasion of her country, questioned the crowd’s motives in booing her stance.

“I want to see people react to it in 10 years when the war is over. I think they will not feel really nice about what they did,” she said.

“I didn’t expect it. People should be honestly embarrassed.”

Kostyuk, ranked at 39 in the world, famously refused to shake hands with Sabalenka’s Belarusian compatriot and former world number one Victoria Azarenka at the US Open last year. She opted instead for a cursory touch of racquets at the net.

“It was a very tough match, tough emotionally. I didn’t know if the booing was against me but thank you so much for your support, it’s really important,” said Sabalenka who apologised for her exaggerated, theatrical bow to the Court Philippe Chatrier crowd.

Sabalenka had admitted on the eve of the tournament that she could accept if Kostyuk had feelings of “hate” towards her.

“I never said that I hate Aryna Sabalenka or any of the players. I just don’t respect her because of her position in this situation,” added Kostyuk, who wants Russian and Belarusian players to individually denounce the war which has raged on since February last year.