Djokovic Defends Dad, Hopes He Will Be in Box for AO Final

Novak Djokovic defended his father within the wake of controversial photos and video of Srdjan Djokovic showing alongside followers waving Russian flags on the Australian Open.

After his straight-sets semifinal win over Tommy Paul to achieve his tenth Australian Open remaining, Djokovic mentioned the controversy was a “misrepresentation” of what occurred along with his father.

More: Tsitsipas Into First Australian Open Final

The 35-year-old Serbian famous person says he and has household assist peace and oppose battle.

“My father, my complete household, and myself, have been by a number of wars throughout ’90,” Novak Djokovic mentioned. “As my father put in a press release, we’re in opposition to the battle, we by no means will assist any violence or any battle. We all know how devastating that’s for the household, for individuals in any nation that’s going by the battle.”

Controversy erupted after Srdjan Djokovic was photographed in photos with followers waving the Russian flag with President Vladimir Putin’s face on the flag.

Former world No. 1 Djokovic mentioned his father usually goes to fulfill his followers after matches, thank them for his or her assist and take images with them.

“My father, as he mentioned within the assertion, has been going after each single match to fulfill with my followers on the foremost sq. right here in Australian Open, to thank them for the assist, to be with them, pay them respect, and make images,” Novak Djokovic mentioned. “The photograph that he made, he was passing by. I heard what he mentioned within the video. He mentioned, Cheers. Sadly a few of the media has interpreted that in a very flawed manner.

“I am sorry that that has escalated a lot. However I hope individuals perceive that there was completely no intention in any respect to assist any sort of battle initiatives or something like that.”

Former Ukrainian professional Alexandr Dolgopolov, who has returned to his native Ukraine to assist defend the nation from Russia’s invasion, tweeted Tennis Australia’s assertion and urged officers to not allow accredited people from selling “flags, symbols of battle or evil individuals.”

Hopefully all is completed for this to not repeat @TennisAustralia 👏🏻. All accredited individuals ought to be accountable and never promote flags,symbols of battle or evil individuals. We in 🇺🇦 battle not for this decay to unfold to lovely nation’s we love and admire their values and freedoms 🇦🇺🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/LhMNzHGYS1

— Alex Dolgopolov (@TheDolgo) January 27, 2023

“Hopefully all is completed for this to not repeat @TennisAustralia,” Dolgopolov tweeted. “All accredited individuals ought to be accountable and never promote flags,symbols of battle or evil individuals. We in 🇺🇦 battle not for this decay to unfold to lovely nation’s we love and admire their values and freedoms 🇦🇺🇺🇦 “

In a follow-up tweet, Dolgopolov urged Djokovic urge followers to not promote the Russian flag or symbols.

Could be good if that’s true. Additionally can be logic to ask their followers publicly to cease carrying Z letter, putins face and russian flags to their matches if that’s true, as a result of that’s the purest battle assist indicators however we’re not listening to these phrases, sadly. https://t.co/RvDrfesInL

— Alex Dolgopolov (@TheDolgo) January 27, 2023

When Djokovic performs for his twenty second Grand Slam title in opposition to Stefanos Tsitsipas in Sunday’s AO remaining he hopes his father will likely be in his field.

“Yeah, I hope to have him [in the box],” Djokovic mentioned. “I hope he will be feeling okay to be within the courts as a result of I want to have him there for the finals.”

Picture credit score: Novak Djokovic Instagram