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Outrage as Novak Djokovic’s father is seen posing with a Russian flag with Vladimir Putin’s face on it as a supporter yells: “Long live Russia!”
- Srdjan Djokovic has been filmed posing with the Russian flag
- The flag also featured the face of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.
- It comes as four fans were evicted for their pro-Russian flags and chants.
Novak Djokovic faces further controversy after his father Srdjan was filmed posing with a Russian flag that has Vladimir Putin’s face emblazoned on it.
Shortly after Djokovic reached the semi-finals on Thursday night, his father mingled with fans declaring their support for Russia, with police and Tennis Australia confirming that four spectators were evicted from Melbourne Park.
The Australian Open entry regulations expressly prohibit any flag in support of Russia or Belarus.
A video posted on YouTube shows Srdjan posing next to the flag and a supporter shouting “Long live Russia!”
Tennis superstar Novak Djokovic (left) with father Srdjan. After watching his son’s quarterfinal win at the Australian Open, he was seen posing with a Russian flag with Vladimir Putin’s face on it.
Djokovic Senior is shown being warmly welcomed by his son’s fans and appears to say something of support before continuing.
Srdjan was particularly outspoken last year when his son was deported after being detained for not having been vaccinated, accusing the Australian state of trying to ‘murder’ his superstar son.
The player himself has desperately tried to avoid controversy since arriving in Australia to focus on his title efforts as he prepares to face American Tommy Paul in the semi-final on Friday.
Unbeknownst to him or not, he could be seen signing something on Wednesday for a man who had previously been wearing a ‘Z’ T-shirt, which became the makeshift logo of the Russian invaders of Ukraine.
A fan has been seen at the Australian Open wearing an ultra-nationalist Russian war symbol
Srdjan Djokovic and his wife Dijana watch Novak during his quarterfinal win over Andrey Rublev on Wednesday
Entirely separate on a pure level of tennis, there has been speculation about the severity of a hamstring injury he has been sustaining as he progressed through the tournament.
A faction of Serbian fans at Melbourne Park have wanted to show their affinity for Russia, despite the enormous human cost of the invasion of Ukraine on both sides.
A group of fans chanted “Russia, Serbia” in a reminder of the two countries’ close cultural ties.
Attempts to prevent them from publicly showing support for Putin on tennis have been unsuccessful, judging by Wednesday night.
Ukraine’s ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko expressed his disgust at his behavior today.
It is a complete package. Among the Serbian flags there is a Russian flag, Putin, symbol Z, called the flag of the Donetsk People’s Republic. It’s a shame,’ he told the herald sun.