Novak Djokovic’s father stays AWAY from Australian Open final despite being allowed to attend

Novak Djokovic’s father has opted to stay out of the Australian Open final on Sunday, following his controversial interaction with Vladimir Putin’s supporters on Wednesday.

Srdjan Djokovic was filmed with a man wearing a ‘Z’ shirt [denoting support for Russian armed forces] and behind a flag with the face of the Russian president.

Russian flags, the Russian eagle banner, Belarusian flags and Z-symbol clothing items are banned from Melbourne Park amid Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

While he maintained he simply wanted to thank Novak’s fans for their support, the footage caused quite a stir and Djokovic Snr did not attend his son’s semi-final win over Tommy Paul on Friday.

Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko has called on tournament organizers to prevent Djokovic Snr from watching his son face Stefanos Tsitsipas at Rod Laver Arena on Sunday.

But just hours before the start of the final, Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley revealed that Djokovic’s father was free to take his place at Rod Laver Arena after accepting that the Serb had been inadvertently dragged into the drama of the flags

It is your decision. We’re going to let it be his decision and ultimately he has to make the decision,” Tiley said Sunday.

The seat that Djokovic Snr normally occupies with his wife Djana (second row) was left empty

Djokovic (second left) was seen with a fan who was holding a Russian flag with Putin’s face on it and wearing a T-shirt with the Z symbol of the Russian armed forces.

It did not violate any event policy. That is very important because what has been written about what he [allegedly] said has not been correct and I think that people are retracting that.

“It’s unfortunate that massive assumptions have been made.”

However, Djokovic’s father was conspicuously absent at Rod Laver Arena, with the seat next to his wife Dijana empty.

Ahead of Friday’s semifinal, Djokovic Sr. said he had chosen to stay away to avoid becoming a distraction.

“I am here only to support my son,” he said in a statement.

“I had no intention of causing such headlines or disruptions. I was outside with the Novak fans like I have after all my son’s games to celebrate his wins and take pictures with them.

‘I had no intention of getting caught with this.’

Tiley said he believed Djokovic’s father didn’t realize he was posing with people carrying Russian flags.

“I know him personally and his family was devastated by what happened. It was not intentional and I agree with it and it was not designed to cause harm to anyone,” Tiley said.

‘It was an unfortunate situation and the Serbian fans have been fantastic. Every day has been very active and loud and boisterous and that adds to all the color of the event.