Novak Djokovic booked his place in the third round of the French Open by defeating Marton Vosovic

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This isn’t the first time Novak Djokovic has been on the brink of a match and all the talk is about anything but his serve, his forehand and the all-court match.

The 22-time major winner – who is bidding for a record 24 slams in the next fortnight – stirred controversy once again by writing a message about Kosovo on the camera lens after his first-round win over Aleksandar Kovacevic.

After winning in straight sets, Djokovic wrote: “Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence.”

She hints at the predictable shriek and shrug of the shoulders of the equally predictable Serb, who, as evidenced by his stance on the Covid vaccine, is not one to hold back.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Djokovic said he thought what he wrote on a TV camera was “the least I could do. I feel a responsibility as a public figure…as well as the son of a man born in Kosovo.”

But this did not prevent the French government from interfering. French Sports Minister Amelie Odea-Castera said earlier in the day that Djokovic’s political message on Kosovo was “not appropriate” and warned the top-ranked former Serbian player he should not do it again.

Speaking to France 2 television, Odia Castera said French Open director Amelie Mauresmo had spoken with Djokovic and his entourage to insist on the principle of “neutrality” on the field of play.

“When it comes to standing up for human rights and bringing people together around universal values, athletes are free to do so,” she said. But Odia Castera added that Djokovic’s message was “tough, very political” and “must not be repeated”.

The Kosovo Tennis Federation said on Tuesday that Djokovic’s comments were “unfortunate” because he was fanning tensions between Serbia and Kosovo.

The International Tennis Federation has not opened a disciplinary case.

“We received a message from Kosovo which we responded to,” said ITF President David Haggerty. “But basically we sent their message to the French Federation, to the French Open, it’s their tournament, and to the ATP which has the rules – both of them together have the rules and regulations for this event.”

So all eyes will be on Djokovic this evening to see how he reacts to the uproar as much as whether he’s in shape for a third Roland Garros title.

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