Famed tennis star Novak Djokovic’s father stoked outrage after being spotted mingling with demonstrators praising Russian President Vladimir Putin near the Australian Open.
Srdjan Djokovic was caught on video beside protesters, some of whom wielded a Russian flag with Putin’s face and shouted pro-Russian chants as the war in Ukraine rages on thousands of miles away. At least four of the demonstrators were booted from Melbourne Park, where the protest took place, according to authorities. Russian and Belarusian flags have been banned from the tournament due to the war.
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“Players and their teams have been briefed and reminded of the event policy regarding flags and symbols and to avoid any situation that has the potential to disrupt,” an Australian Open spokesperson told CNN. “We continue to work closely with event security and law enforcement agencies.”
Pro-Putin demonstrators gathered to “strike back” at the event organizers amid Tennis Australia’s ban on Russian flags during its tournament. The elder Djokovic was seen adjacent to a man donning a pro-war “Z” symbol, which has been a sign of support for the war in Ukraine seen on Russian military hardware.
Phrases such as “long live Russian citizens” were heard during the demonstrations, according to translations.
“It’s a full package. Among the Serbian flags there is a Russian flag, Putin, Z-symbol, so-called Donetsk People Republic flag. It’s such a disgrace,” Vasyl Myroshnychenko, Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia, tweeted.
It’s a full package. Among the Serbian flags, there is: a Russian flag, Putin, Z-symbol, so-called Donetsk People’s Republic flag. It’s such a disgrace…@TennisAustralia @AustralianOpen https://t.co/wZoZontcEj
— Vasyl Myroshnychenko (@AmbVasyl) January 25, 2023
Novak Djokovic hails from Serbia and became subject to international uproar when he was detained and ultimately booted from Australia for refusing a COVID-19 vaccine last year. As a result, he was denied an opportunity to defend his Australian Open title.
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Australia had triggered international backlash for refusing his entry amid its stringent COVID-19 suppression measures, though he was later denied admittance into other prominent tournaments, such as the U.S. Open. The Australian Open is one of four Grand Slam events alongside the U.S. Open, the French Open, and Wimbledon.
The younger Djokovic has won nine Australian Open titles and 21 Grand Slam men’s singles titles. He has now reached the semifinals in the current Australian Open.
