Djokovic’s father responds to criticism after posing with fan wearing pro-Russian ‘Z’ symbol

[ad_1]

Tennis star Novak Djokovic’s father has responded to criticism after a video emerged on Wednesday of him at the Australian Open posing with fans holding Russian flags, expressing his support for Russia.

In a statement on Friday that stopped short of apologizing, Srdjan Djokovic said he was in Melbourne ‘to support my son only’ and ‘had no intention of making headlines or causing any such uproar. disturbances”.

“I was outside with the Novak fans like I did after all of my son’s games celebrating his wins and taking pictures with them. I had no intention of getting caught up in that,” he said. he declared.

“My family has lived through the horror of war, and we only want peace.”

He added that he would be watching his son’s semi-final match against American star Tommy Paul from his home on Friday “so there is no disruption… for my son or for the other player”.

Novak Djokovic will not comment on the situation, his management told CNN.

Earlier on Friday, Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia urged the tennis star to state his position on the war following his father’s actions.

I think to dispel speculation, it’s important to make a very strong statement about one’s position in this war, Ukrainian Ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko told CNN.

What the video showed: In a video posted to YouTube by a known Vladimir Putin supporter, Srdjan Djokovic can be seen posing with a fan outside Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena. The man is holding a Russian flag with Putin’s face on it and wearing a shirt with the Z symbol on his shirt, which is seen as a sign of support for Russia, including its invasion of Ukraine.

[ad_2]