In Kosovo, tennis officials accuse Novak Djokovic of fueling tensions after the French Open relay

Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic He has been accused of fueling tensions in Kosovo amid violent protests in the region after sharing a political message following his first-round win at the French Open on Monday.

After defeating Aleksandar Kovacevic, Djokovic wrote a message on the camera lens saying: “Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence.”

Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays against Aleksandar Kovacevic of the United States during their men’s singles first round match at the 2023 French Open at Roland Garros on May 29, 2023 in Paris. (Christian Liewig/Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)

Some got the message supported by the ethnic Serbs of Kosovo who clashed with the police and NATO peacekeepers This week, protests broke out after newly elected ethnic Albanian officials tried to enter municipal buildings in the northern region.

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“Novak Djokovic comments at the end Roland Garros in the match against Aleksandar Kovacevic, his statement at the post-match press conference and his Instagram posts are deplorable,” Kosovo Tennis Federation President Jeton Hadergjonaj said in a statement, via Reuters.

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic writes a political statement in Serbian on the camera lens: “Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence.” He referred to tensions between Kosovo and Serbia following his first-round win at the 2023 French Open on May 29, 2023 in Paris. (Getty Images)

“Novak Djokovic was already the author of similar actions in the past. Despite the general anti-violence message, the statement ‘Kosovo is the heart of Serbia’ and additional post-match statements made by such a public figure at an event. Global events like the French Open directly increase the level of tension between the two countries, Serbia and Kosovo, between.”

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In the post-match press conference, Djokovic explained that his ties to Kosovo prompted him to make the statement. He also reiterated his stance against the war.

“As the son of a man born in Kosovo, I feel the need to give my support to our people and all of Serbia,” he told reporters, via Reuters. “My position is clear: I am against wars, violence and all kinds of conflicts, as I have always stated publicly. I have compassion for all people, but the situation in Kosovo is a precedent in international law.”

Novak Djokovic of Serbia during his men’s singles first round match against Aleksandar Kovacevic of the United States at Roland Garros on May 29, 2023 in Paris. (Andy Cheung/Getty Images)

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Recent violence dates back to the 1998 conflict in Kosovo. Belgrade does not recognize the 2008 declaration of independence by Kosovo, a former province of Serbia. Ethnic Albanians make up the majority of the population, but Kosovo has a restive Serb minority in neighboring Serbia’s north.

At least 30 NATO peacekeepers were injured in recent clashes.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.