Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic’s controversial message on the French Open, during which he mentioned Kosovo was the “coronary heart of Serbia,” is “clearly not applicable,” France’s Sports activities Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra mentioned Wednesday.
“It’s a really militant message, very political,” Oudéa-Castéra mentioned in an interview with French public broadcaster France 2.
“We actually shouldn’t go down that street, particularly given the circumstances,” the minister added, referring to latest clashes.
One of the crucial profitable athletes in tennis historical past with 22 Grand Slam titles, Djokovic induced an outcry on Monday after his first-round win at Roland-Garros. “Kosovo is the guts of Serbia. Cease the violence,” Djokovic wrote in Serbian on a TV digital camera display.
Lengthy-standing tensions between Serbia and Kosovo — which declared its independence in 2008 however isn’t acknowledged by Belgrade — have resurfaced in latest days, after clashes between police and Serb protesters in northern Kosovo wounded dozens, together with NATO troopers.
“As a son of a person born in Kosovo, I really feel the necessity to give my assist to our individuals and to complete Serbia,” Djokovic mentioned at a information briefing after his sport on Monday, in keeping with Reuters.
In her interview on Wednesday, the French sports activities minister mentioned that the top of the Roland-Garros event had talked with Djokovic and his staff after the incident.
“There’s a precept of neutrality on the sector of play,” Oudéa-Castéra, a former skilled tennis participant, mentioned. “It can’t occur once more.”
Djokovic, who has the prospect to assert the all-time file for Grand Slam event victories if he wins the French Open, will play Hungary’s Márton Fucsovics within the second spherical on Wednesday evening.
