“That’s what I stand for”: Novak Djokovic defends his message about Kosovo PSG coach confirms: Lionel Messi will leave Paris at the end of the season

After his opening win at the French Open on Monday, Novak Djokovic wrote “Kosovo is the heart of Serbia” on the camera lens. He was not a politician and did not intend to get involved in a political debate, the Serb said afterwards. And yet it did just that.

As expected, Novak Djokovic defeated Hungarian Marton Fucsovics on Tuesday evening 7: 6, 6: 0, 6: 3 and is in the third round. Earlier, the world tennis association ITF already announced that Djokovic did not have to fear sanctions for his message. Gilles Moretton, president of the French federation FFT, which organizes the French Open, told the France 2 TV channel: “There are no sanctions because we know he is emotional and it is something that affects his family.”

French Sports Minister: “Militant” and “inappropriate”

But Moretton warned: “It must not happen again.” French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera previously described the message as “inappropriate”. She is “militant” and “very political”. She also told «France 2»:

It didn’t either. And it didn’t have to be. When asked about the message, Djokovic said shortly before midnight on Wednesday:

He is aware that many have different opinions, “but that’s what I stand for.”

Djokovic: “It’s something I stand for”

In concrete terms, this means: Novak Djokovic defends his message, questioning the independence of Kosovo. It split from Serbia in 2008 and Serbia still considers Kosovo to be a Serbian province. Unlike the United Nations, Switzerland, like most European countries, recognizes Kosovo’s independence.

Novak Djokovic has never commented on Kosovo in recent years. However, in 2008, after his first Grand Slam win at the Australian Open, he recorded a video message for a rally under the motto “Kosovo is Serbia”. At that time he said:

Djokovic’s father Srdjan is from Montenegro but was born in Zvecan, which is now part of Kosovo. Mother Dijana has Croatian parents and grew up in Belgrade. Djokovic started playing tennis in Kopaonik on the Serbian-Kosovar border. The area was bombed by NATO forces during the Balkan War.

On Whit Monday, ethnic Serbs protested in several communities in Kosovo, who were dispersed by soldiers from NATO’s KFOR mission. Background: The Serb minority of predominantly ethnic Albanian Kosovo lives mainly in the north, where Serbs form the majority. Many Serbs do not recognize Kosovo and its government and want to belong to Serbia.

Djokovic is aiming for 23 Grand Slam titles

Djokovic’s message comes at a time of rising tensions. Serbian President Alexander Vucic recently spoke of “terror against the Serbian community” in Kosovo, put the country’s army on standby and announced that troops would be moved closer to the Kosovo border.

Djokovic will meet Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (23, ATP 34) in the third round of the French Open on Friday, whom he lost in Monte Carlo last year. Djokovic is aiming for his 23rd Grand Slam title, which would make him the only record holder in the men’s category. (aargauerzeitung.ch)