SYDNEY (Reuters) -Novak Djokovic’s father Srdjan said on Friday he wouldn’t attend his son’s Australian Open semi-final and would as a substitute “watch from home”, after a video emerged showing him posing at Melbourne Park with fans holding Russian flags.
The video caused controversy in Australia, resulting in the country’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday reiterating Australian support for Ukraine and criticising supporters of Russia’s invasion.
“I’m here to support my son only. I had no intention of causing such headlines or disruption,” Srdjan Djokovic said in an emailed statement.
“So there is no such thing as a disruption to tonight’s semi-final for my son or for the opposite player, I even have chosen to observe from home.”
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Novak Djokovic declined to comment.
“I’ll make this point, that Australia stands with the people of Ukraine,” Albanese told a news conference after a reporter asked if Srdjan Djokovic needs to be deported after he was seen posing for pictures with fans holding Russian flags.
“That’s Australia’s position and Australia is unequivocal in our support for the rule of international law.
“We are not looking for to see any support given to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, that’s having a devastating impact on the people of Ukraine.”
Albanese didn’t respond on to the query about whether Srdjan Djokovic needs to be deported.
Police questioned 4 fans seen with “inappropriate flags and symbols” after a quarter-final match on Wednesday between Russia’s Andrey Rublev and favourite Djokovic, organisers Tennis Australia said.
The Serbian player, who was on the centre of a storm of controversy over his COVID-19 vaccination status eventually 12 months’s Australian Open, has not commented on the incident and his spokesman didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment.
A video emerged on social media showed a fan on the steps of Rod Laver Arena holding up a Russian flag with the image of President Vladimir Putin on it.
Photos also showed one fan with a big “Z” on his shirt. Russian forces have used the letter as an identifying symbol on their vehicles in Ukraine following their invasion. Some supporters of the invasion have also used the sign.
Srdjan Djokovic was seen in some posts posing with the Russian supporters.
Australian Open organisers on Thursday issued a reminder to players and their entourages about their policy on flags after the video of Djokovic’s father emerged.
On Friday, Tennis Australia said they “proceed to strive for the protection of fans on the event and reiterate our position banning flags from Belarus and Russia”.Â
Russian and Belarusian athletes are capable of compete as individual athletes without national affiliation on the Australian Open, though their flags are banned from the tournament grounds after a grievance by Ukraine’s ambassador last week.
Djokovic was deported on the eve of the tournament last 12 months for not being vaccinated against COVID-19 and received a three-year Australian travel ban.
That ban was rescinded in November, allowing him to compete this 12 months.
Djokovic will proceed his bid for a record-extending tenth Australian Open title and twenty second Grand Slam crown to match Rafa Nadal when he takes on unseeded American Tommy Paul of their semi-final afterward Friday. Â
(Reporting by Alasdair Pal in Sydney; additional reporting Shrivathsa Sridhar; Editing by Robert Birsel, Peter Rutherford)
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