MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic’s father has been filmed posing with enthusiasts brandishing professional-Russian flags at the Australian Open up in scenes Ukraine’s ambassador on Thursday (Jan 26) slammed as “a disgrace”.
The Serbian star had just booked his put in the event semi-final with a straight sets thumping of Russian opponent Andrey Rublev in Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday night.
Soon after the match a group of fans unfurled Russian flags in close proximity to the stadium, which includes one that includes Vladimir Putin’s confront, chanting pro-Russian slogans.
Tennis Australia mentioned 4 people today “disclosed inappropriate flags and symbols and threatened security guards”. Police were being known as and they ended up ejected from Melbourne Park.
A video clip later posted to a pro-Russian Australian YouTube account confirmed Djokovic’s father Srdjan posing with a gentleman holding the Putin flag.
It was captioned: “Novak Djokovic’s father makes bold political assertion.”
Serbian tennis reporters confirmed it was Djokovic’s father and the Melbourne Age newspaper described he stated in Serbian: “Very long are living Russia.”