"He has to understand that he can’t provoke Kosovo any time he wants": Tennis chief calls for Djokovic to be fined over French Open message
ATPWednesday, 31 May 2023 at 19:30
The
statement made by Novak Djokovic after his victory at the French Open regarding
the situation in Kosovo continues to generate reactions.
The world No.
3 successfully advanced in the first round by defeating American Aleksander
Kovacevic in three sets. Following his successful debut, Novak Djokovic wrote
on the television camera lens:
"Kosovo
is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence," accompanied by a heart
drawing.
Amidst
strong tension between the two countries, violent incidents have occurred due
to the recent election of officials of Albanian ethnicity. Kosovo declared
independence from Serbia in 2008, although Serbian authorities have never officially
recognized it. The President of the Kosovo Tennis Federation, Jeton
Hadergjonaj, spoke about the controversy on talkSPORT.
“Doing it
at the French Open was shocking for us – it’s one of the four biggest
tournaments in the world – and especially at a time when the tensions between
the two nations are high,” he said.
“We are
expecting that this year we will have a final agreement between Kosovo and
Serbia and everything will be solved peacefully, but Djokovic’s comments,
writing on the camera, his declaration in his post-match press conference and
his Instagram and other media, they were deeply regrettable events.”
“The Kosovo
Tennis Federation is a full member of the ITF and also part of our national
Olympic Committee, which is part of the International Olympic Committee – and
that means we have to react,” said Hadergjonaj.
“Because
according to the Olympic charter, it’s a fundamental principle that sporting
organisations within the Olympic movement shall apply political neutrality, and
you cannot make this political statement in such a big event, especially now
where the Russia and Ukraine war is ongoing and with raised tensions between
Kosovo and Serbia.”
“Personally
I don’t feel outraged by it, because there are Serbs who now agree with the
real situation, who think Kosovo is independent now and they only have to take
care of Serbia – but I wonder why Djokovic is not accepting of this.”
“He is a
real champion, but he has to understand that he can’t provoke Kosovo any time
he wants,” Hadergjonaj added.
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“I don’t
think he’ll do it again because he had talks with the organisers of Roland
Garros, but we are preparing our official request to the French Tennis
Federation and ITF for Djokovic to be penalised and to get a fine, because
there were a lot of things wrong with his declarations.
“Just
imagine if, let’s say, Daniil Medvedev goes and says ‘Crimea is Russia’…”
The
director of Kosovo also joked about 'Nole's' statement and mentioned that he
would invite him to participate with his team in the Davis Cup.:
“Since he
has roots in Kosovo, his father was born in Kosovo, I don’t understand why it’s
taking so long for him to realise Kosovo is independent now,” Hadergjonaj
added.
“He has to
accept it and we have to continue to work together for the benefits of tennis.
“And if I
see him soon, and he loves Kosovo so much, I’m going to offer him a place to
play for Kosovo in the Davis Cup.
“Why not?
Since he loves Kosovo – let’s play!” he concluded.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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