Australian Open: Djokovic's father is controversial by appearing with pro-Putin supporters

The father and mother of Novak Djokovik, Srdjan and Dijana in the stands of the Australian Open on January 25, 2023. AP - Dita Alangkara

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

While Novak Djokovic looks set to win the Australian Open, his father is now causing controversy.

He appeared in a video next to fans waving a Russian flag, on which Vladimir Putin's face is superimposed. 

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With our correspondent in Sydney,

Grégory Plesse

Novak Djokovic's father, surrounded by fans waving a Russian flag bearing the image of Vladimir Putin, and wearing t-shirts

flocked with a huge Z

, a symbol of support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

These are the images that emerged on YouTube, and which undoubtedly explain why Srdjan Djokovic was not in the stands to support his son, winner in the semi-finals this Friday against the American Tommy Paul.

Asked to explain himself to the Australian tennis federation, the father of the star explained that he did not want to create problems, and that he had no other intention than to party with the fans of his son.

That was not enough to appease Ukraine's ambassador to Australia, who called on sporting authorities to ban Novak Djokovic's father from attending Sunday's final, calling his behavior shameful.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was opposed to displaying any form of support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Novak Djokovic, for his part, pledged last March to financially support Ukrainian tennis player Sergei Stakhovsky, who put his sports career on hiatus to join the ranks of the Ukrainian army.

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