Roland Garros is investigating whether Djokovic should be punished

Two days after the war in Ukraine landed at Roland Garros, due to Ukrainian refusal Martha Kostyuk to congratulate his Belarusian rival Aryna Sabalenkathe serbian Novak Djokovic brought the tense situation in Kosovo to the clay-court Grand Slam.

“Kosovo is the heart of Serbia! Stop the violence,” the player wrote on the camera that the tournament makes available to winners on center court to send a message at the end of their matches.

A clear reference to the growing tension in that territory which has declared its independence, which is not recognized by many countries, and where the Serb minority does not recognize the authority of Pristina.

The problem is the regulation of Roland Garros political messages are prohibited on the track, so the tournament director, Amelie MauresmoHe assured them that they were studying the situation.

“Let’s see, to talk to him to find out what he really meant. Let’s not rush,” said the former world number 1 on French public television.

The situation could be compromised for the tournament against a player as influential Djokoviccurrently number 3 in the rankings, looking for his third crown in Paris and thus complete 23, which would put him as the tennis player with the most in history, surpassing the Spaniard by one. Rafael Nadal.

In the following press conference, Djokovic he tried to avoid controversy, but noted that “as the son of someone born in Kosovo there is an additional responsibility to support the people and the whole of Serbia.” And he assured that “they will probably punish me, but I felt the responsibility to provide that support.”

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This is not the first time the tennis player has spoken out against the independence of that territory.

In 2008, when Pristina declared it, Djokovic said he was going through “one of the worst moments” in the country’s history and assured: “We are ready to defend what is ours.”

This new controversy comes two days after the one in which they starred Sabalenka and Kostyuk.

The Ukrainian refused to congratulate his Belarusian rival, world number 2, and accused him of not taking a firm stand against the war.

The gesture earned Kostyuk boos from the public, an attitude that made the player ugly, pointing out that this would not happen at other Grand Slams like Wimbledom.

Sabalenka said that “no one in this world, including Russian and Belarusian athletes, supports this war”, but this was not enough for the Ukrainian, who counter-attacked: “Let him not speak on behalf of others, speak for himself.”