Rome Masters director Palmieri blasts Djokovic - "He's not an example for young people"

Novak Djokovic catching more and more heat since his Australian Open fiasco with the Rome Masters director Sergio Palmieri branding him as a bad influence.

Sergio Palmieri has branded Novak Djokovic a “controversial character” following his Australian Open deportation and reveals it is “up to him” whether he competes at the Rome Masters this year. Speaking to Italian radio station Radio Anch’io Sport, Palmieri said:

“[Djokovic] is a controversial character, he takes a stand and he puts himself out there. Certainly, he is not an example for young people approaching this sport; from this point of view, he has not reached Roger [Federer] and Rafa [Nadal’s] stature."

Palmieri did not have only bad words for Djokovic admitting that he has a very strong personality that will allow him to overcome this challenge:

“I have a long-standing relationship with Novak and he is a different person from the one he appears to be from the outside. He has a very strong personality and he will overcome this challenge."

Asked whether he will play in Rome, Palmieri said:

“It’s up to him. If he were to sign up and be compliant with all the [Covid] rules, we will have no problems to accept him and no reason not to do so.”