ISTANBUL
Novak Djokovic left a political message on a television camera lens after his first-round win at the French Open.
“Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence,” he wrote Monday in his native language, using a heart symbol.
Djokovic made his feeling clear regarding his support for Serbians in Kosovo at a news conference after the match.
“Especially as a son of a man born in Kosovo, I feel the need to give my support to our people and to the entirety of Serbia,” he said. “This is the least I could have done. I feel the responsibility as a public figure – doesn’t matter in which field — to give support.
His message stirred controversy in the social media, with some users and media outlets accusing him of stoking Kosovo-Serb tension.
Tensions have gripped Kosovo, with protesters and security forces clashing in the northern Serb-dominated municipalities concerning the election of ethnic Albanian mayors in four municipalities last month.
At least 30 soldiers of the NATO-led international peacekeeping mission in Kosovo (KFOR) were injured in the fighting with Serbs who were protesting Monday and attempting to prevent the newly-elected mayor of the Zvecan municipality from entering the town hall to take the oath of office and begin official duties.
Djokovic, 36, eliminated Aleksandar Kovacevic in straight sets on Court Philippe Chatrier to ease into the second round of the tournament.
