The tennis star\u0027s father said he had unintenionally taken photos with fans wearing the \u0027Z\u0027 pro\u002DRussian invasion symbol.
In a statement released just hours before Friday’s game between Djokovic and U.S. player Tommy Paul, his father confirmed he would not attend to avoid creating any “disruption,” saying: “I am here to support my son only.”
Srdjan, who is Serbian, said he had taken photos with fans “as I have done after all of my son’s matches. I had no intention of being caught up in this.Although flags are normally permitted during the Australian Open matches at Melbourne Park, Tennis Australia banned Russian and Belarusian flags on the second day of this year’s tournaments after a Russian flag was displayed courtside during a first-round women’s match Monday between Kateryna Baindl of Ukraine and Kamilla Rakhimova of Russia.
Athletes from Russia and Belarus have been allowed to compete at the Australian Open and a number of other tennis tournaments as “neutral” players, with no reference to their countries or flags, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine that Belarus has supported. In other sporting events, including Wimbledon and the men’s soccer World Cup, Russians were completely banned from taking part.
“Throughout the event we’ve spoken with players and their teams about the importance of not engaging in any activity that causes distress or disruption,” Tennis Australia said in a statement Friday. Noting Djokovic’s decision not to attend the match, the body said that it would “continue to strive for the safety of fans at the event,” and repeated that flags from Russia and Belarus were banned. “Tennis Australia stands with the call for peace and an end to war and violent conflict in Ukraine.”Share this Story:
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