Despite hoping for a drama-free Grand Slam tournament, Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic has caused controversy by scrawling the message “Kosovo is at the heart of Serbia” on a plexiglass plate during a post-match tradition. The message reflects the ongoing conflict between ethnic Serbs and Albanians over Kosovo and has led to calls for Djokovic to be disciplined. However, French Open officials have refused to take action, stating that there is nothing in the rule book that disallows political statements. On the court, Djokovic has been performing well, comfortably beating Marton Fucsovics 7-6 (2), 6-0, 6-3 in his most recent match.
The controversy surrounding Djokovic’s actions is the latest in a series of incidents linked to the player, including his decision not to be vaccinated against Covid-19, which led to him missing several important tournaments. Djokovic has also been detained and deported from Australia ahead of the Australian Open. He has a history of making political statements suffused with Serbian nationalism, impressing some and angering others, and has expressed his views on the situation in Kosovo several times in the past.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, a move that was recognized by more than 100 countries. However, Serbia and Russia have refused to recognize Kosovo’s independence, leading to ongoing tensions between different ethnic groups in the country. Ethnic Serbs, who are vastly outnumbered by Albanians in the region, boycotted local elections last month, allowing Albanian candidates to take control in certain key areas. This sparked protests from the Serbs which led to violent clashes with the NATO peacekeeping force KFOR. Djokovic’s message highlights the complex and fraught situation in the Balkans, which has seen ethnic groups fight for control of the area for hundreds of years.
