Srdjan Djokovic was not current for his son’s Australian Open semifinal in Melbourne
Novak Djokovic’s father, Srdjan, didn’t attend his son’s Australian Open semifinal match in opposition to Tommy Paul on Friday after saying he was unknowingly caught up in a pro-Russia demonstration following the Serb’s match with Andrey Rublev earlier this week.
Footage appeared on-line on Thursday which confirmed Srdjan Djokovic standing alongside a person carrying a Russian flag with a picture of Russian President Vladimir Putin on it. The person was additionally sporting a shirt bearing the ‘Z’ image, which is related to Russian troops in Ukraine.
It was confirmed after Djokovic’s match with Russia’s Andrey Rublev small variety of supporters had been detained and questioned by Australian authorities for breaking an order banning the show of the Russian tricolor all through the Grand Slam tennis event.
In an announcement issued by his representatives, Srdjan Djokovic confirmed that he can be absent from Friday’s match involving his son and added that he had not meant to trigger “disruption” on the occasion.
Srdjan Djokovic, tatăl tenismenului, cu drapelul rus pe Rod Laver Area la Australian Open …. pic.twitter.com/uHAvaiUFXF
— Cosmin Cozma (@CosminCozma20) January 26, 2023
“I’m right here to assist my son solely. I had no intention of inflicting such headlines or disruption,” he mentioned.
“I used to be outdoors with Novak’s followers as I’ve carried out in spite of everything of my son’s matches to have a good time his wins and take photos with them. I had no intention of being caught up on this.
“My household has lived via the horror of conflict, and we want just for peace. So there is no such thing as a disruption to tonight’s semifinal for my son or for the opposite participant, I’ve chosen to look at from residence.
“I want for an important match and I shall be cheering for my son, as at all times.”
The ban on Russian flags on the event was applied following an early-round encounter between Ukraine’s Kateryna Baindl and Russia’s Kamilla Rakhimova, with Russian supporters accused of disrupting the match.
Later within the event, a match involving Rublev was briefly interrupted when a Ukrainian flag was draped over promoting hoardings. The Russian subsequently complained to the chair umpire that he was receiving verbal abuse from a piece of supporters.
Addressing the difficulty involving Srdjan Djokovic, Tennis Australia mentioned: “After the occasions of Wednesday night time, we acted swiftly to work with police and our safety groups to have the instigators of the protest faraway from the venue.
“All through the occasion we’ve spoken with gamers and their groups in regards to the significance of not partaking in any exercise that causes misery or disruption.
“Mr. Srdjan Djokovic has issued an announcement confirming that he won’t attend tonight’s semifinal.
“We are going to proceed to try for the security of followers on the occasion and reiterate our place banning flags from Belarus and Russia.
“Tennis Australia stands with the decision for peace and an finish to conflict and violent battle in Ukraine.”