MIKE DICKSON: Djokovic back in the mire again thanks to his father
MIKE DICKSON: Just when it seemed all distractions had been banished from his pursuit of a 10th Australian Open title, Novak Djokovic is back in the public relations mire again thanks to his father’s late-night celebrations
- Srdjan Djokovic was greeted warmly by Russian supporters in Melbourne
- The tournament favourite’s father has been warned about his conduct
- Four fans were ejected for their pro-Russian flags and chants on Wednesday
Who needs enemies when you have got friends and family like Novak Djokovic? Just when it seemed all distractions had been banished from his pursuit of a 10th Australian Open title, up pops his father Srdjan to pose with Russian nationalist sympathisers in front of a flag bearing Vladimir Putin’s face.
Djokovic, who faces American outsider Tommy Paul in the second of Friday’s semi-finals, has put behind him the deportation fiasco of last year. A three-week charm offensive with an Australian public had seen to that.
Sceptical talk of how injured he really was earlier in the tournament was also fading into the rearview mirror. Yet, thanks to his father’s late-night celebrations with the extreme fringes of his Serbian fan base – so keen to display their kinship with Mother Russia – he is back in the public relations mire again.
Novak Djokovic’s father Srdjan is seen in footage with a Russian flag at the Australian Open
He appeared in a video on YouTube posted by pro-Kremlin activist Simeon Boikov, who is the subject of an arrest warrant for the alleged assault of a 76-year-old Ukrainian during a recent rally for the country in Sydney.
It shows Srdjan posing alongside the flag and a sympathiser, who shouts ‘Long Live Russia!’ Djokovic Snr is shown being warmly greeted by his son’s fans and, according to the YouTube translation, appeared to say something similar.
That led to calls from Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia to ban Srdjan from attending the semi-final. ‘It would be a good idea not to let him in,’ Vasyl Myroshnychenko told the Herald Sun.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=1MCPYdm8kZM%3Frel%3D0%26showinfo%3D1%26hl%3Den-US
‘I don’t know why he would say that considering what the Russians are doing in Ukraine, how many people they have killed, tortured, raped and all the summary executions that have happened.’
Srdjan was particularly outspoken last year when his son was detained then deported due to not being vaccinated, accusing the Australian state of trying to ‘assassinate’ his offspring.
A year on, he is still being unhelpful to his son’s cause. With a roll of the eyes, tournament officials were forced to issue a statement warning him and others about their behaviour, but they stopped short of revoking his pass.
Novak Djokovic (left) with Srdjan in 2017. After watching his son’s quarter-final win at the Australian Open he was seen posing with a Russian flag featuring Vladimir Putin’s face
Australian Open entry regulations expressly forbid any displays of support for Russia or Belarus, and four spectators were ejected on Wednesday night.
Condemnation of Djokovic Snr’s photo was swift from Ukrainian players. Former doubles world No 1 Alex Dolgopolov, now fighting in his homeland, posted on social media: ‘Absolutely disgusting. Politics should be kept out of sports they said. These people have absolutely no business in being at tennis tournaments.’
Marta Kostyuk posted angry emojis on her Twitter, while compatriot Lesia Tsurenko added: ‘No words to say.’
A fan at the Australian Open was seen wearing Russia’s ultra-nationalist ‘Z’ war symbol
Djokovic’s spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment.
It should be said that when the invasion first happened, the 35-year-old Serb contacted former Ukrainian player Sergiy Stakhovsky – who has since taken up arms – asking how he could be of assistance, including an offer of financial help.
In Friday’s other men’s semi-final, Stefanos Tsitsipas is set to face Russian Karen Khachanov.
A Russian-born player will face one from Belarus in the women’s final as the wider geopolitical issues stack up. Elena Rybakina, who was born in Moscow but switched allegiances to represent Kazakhstan in 2018, will have to counter the high-volume power of Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka.
Srdjan Djokovic and wife Dijana watch Novak during his quarter-final win over Andrey Rublev on Wednesday
A group of fans chanted ‘Russia, Serbia’ in a reminder of the two countries’ close cultural ties
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