Novak Djokovic no longer has to fear being penalized for his political statement at Roland Garros. The Serbian tennis player came under scrutiny for writing a political message on the camera lens after his victory in the first round in Paris. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) stated in a declaration to the German press agency DPA that there are no prohibitions regarding political expressions in the regulations of the Grand Slam tournaments.
Djokovic defeated American Aleksandar Kovacevic in the first round at Roland Garros on Monday. After the win, the Serbian player took the opportunity to write the message "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence" on the camera lens. The Kosovan Tennis Federation and the country's Olympic committee called for sanctions against Djokovic.
On Wednesday evening, Djokovic addressed the incident once again. "I could repeat them, but I'm not going to. I know many people disagree with it, but that's how I feel about the situation," said the now 36-year-old tennis player. "As a Serb, it hurts me to see what is happening in Kosovo," Djokovic previously stated. "Our people have been expelled from municipalities. This is the least I could do. As a public figure, I feel obligated to show support for our people and all of Serbia."
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