Novak Djokovic’s father Srdjan Djokovic has courted controversy after posing with fans decked out in pro-Russia clothing outside the Australian Open.
Four spectators who attended Djokovic’s quarter-final victory over Russia’s Andrey Rublev were thrown out for waving Russian flags, which have been banned by tournament officials.
Flags from all nations have been banned at the 2023 Australian Open in order to prevent disruptions from protests, as well as to show respect to Ukrainian players. Some of the spectators ejected from Thursday night’s quarter final, as well as those pictured outside, were wearing pro-war ‘Z’ symbol.
In a video posted to YouTube on Thursday, Srdjan Djokovic was filmed with the pro-Russian spectators, briefly speaking to the camera in Serbian before he walked off.
After Djokovic demolished Rublev in straight sets to cruise through to his 10th Australian Open semi-final, fans chanted “Russia, Serbia”. It is unclear whether Srdjan knew that the men he was posing with held such a pro-war stance.
The four men ejected from the quarter final are reportedly under investigation by Victoria Police. Tennis Australia had initially permitted spectators to bring Russian and Belarusian banners to Melbourne Park, as long as they did not cause disruption, but the policy was quickly reversed.
