Novak Djokovic’s father will not attend the semi-finals of the Australian Open. The scandal erupted after he was spotted in a photo with the Russian flag. He explained his decision by the fact that “he wants to avoid further defeats.”
Earlier, Ukrainian Ambassador to Australia Vasily Miroshnichenko called for the Serbian tennis player’s father to be expelled from the Australian Open because he posed with a fan in a Z-t-shirt.
#UPDATE Novak Djokovic’s father Srdjan cannot attend his son’s Australian Open semi-final to avoid further “disruption”.
It comes after a video on pro-Russian YouTube account shows Djokovic’s father posing with man holding Russian flag with Putin’s face on it pic.twitter.com/ANzgyJHcGM
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) January 27, 2023
Srdjan Djokovic is the father of one of the top tennis players in the world, Novak Djokovic. Thus, the ambassador reacted to the video filmed during the Australian Open. On it, Djokovic Sr. appeared with a fan in a T-shirt with the letter Z and the inscription “Where we are, there is Russia.”
A fan holds a Russian flag with a portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin in his hands.
The man in the video congratulates his brother Alexander Zaldostanov and says: “For our brothers there in Moscow.” Standing next to him, Djokovic Sr. adds: “Long live Russia.”
The incident took place on the evening of January 25th. The Australian Tennis Association said that at the time, several people with “inappropriate” flags and symbols were removed from Melbourne Park, where the Australian Open takes place.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MCPYdm8kZM
The Ukrainian ambassador also said that Djokovic, who is preparing for the semi-finals of the Australian Open, should apologize for his father and publicly condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Neither Djokovic nor his management responded to this call.
Last week, the organizers of the Australian Open banned the display of Russian and Belarusian flags during the tournament. This decision was made after the flag of Russia appeared in the stands during the match between Russian Kamilla Rakhimova and Ukrainian tennis player Ekaterina Beindl.
Source: Racurs
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