Following his first-round victory at the Roland Garros tennis tournament, Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic, who was born in Belgrade, conveyed a message in Serbian expressing his support for Kosovo. Djokovic wrote the message on camera, referring to Kosovo as the “cradle” and “stronghold” of their country’s most significant elements.
In an interview with Serbian media, Djokovic, 36 years old, explained his reasons for the message, stating that there are multiple motives behind his action. However, he emphasized that he is not a politician and does not intend to engage in political debates, recognizing the sensitivity of the topic.
The incident took place amidst ethnic tensions in Kosovo, where NATO-led peacekeepers had to intervene to disperse Serb protesters who clashed with the police in northern Kosovo. The protests were in response to the election of Albanian mayors, which the Kosovo Serbs had boycotted. The clashes resulted in injuries to approximately 25 soldiers and over 50 demonstrators.
The recently installed mayors, appointed by Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s government, defied calls from the European Union and the United States to alleviate tensions. Both the EU and the US have supported Kosovo’s independence from Serbia, which was declared in 2008.
Djokovic expressed his concern about the situation in Kosovo, particularly regarding the treatment of Serbian people and their expulsion from municipal offices. He stated that as a public figure and as the son of a man born in Kosovo, he felt a responsibility to show his support for his people and Serbia as a whole. Djokovic reiterated his opposition to war, violence, and any form of conflict, asserting that he has always expressed this stance publicly. He expressed sympathy for all people involved but emphasized that the situation in Kosovo sets a precedent in international law. Djokovic concluded by affirming that he has no remorse for his actions and would do it again.
