Since his political message (“Kosovo is the heart of Serbia”) at the end of his victorious first round against the American of Serbian origin Aleksandar Kovacevic, Novak Djokovic finds himself once again in turmoil. Despite the excitement caused, the world No. 3 in search of a 23rd Grand Slam title will not be sanctioned.
“Novak Djokovic will not be sanctioned after his controversial message against Kosovo… but the French Tennis Federation suggests that there will be a reminder to the world number 3 on the rules of the Grand Slam”, summarizes the Daily Mail. And to recall that during the last Australian Open, the Russian Karen Khachanov had written on a camera to support Armenia, in the conflict which opposes it to Azerbaijan for Nagorno-Karabakh.
In the world of tennis, the Grand Slam Board, the representative body of the Grand Slams (Australian Open, Roland-Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open) oversees the smooth running of tournaments. It is made up of the presidents and general managers of the four Grand Slams and the president of the International Tennis Federation. Frenchman Ugo Valensi is its executive director. The instance relies on the “Grand Slam rule book” which is authentic. At Roland-Garros, before entering the tournament, players sign a registration form. There are two supervisors on all Grand Slam tournaments, they are the ones who would have, with the tournament referee, decide on a fine or an eviction in the event of slippage, non-compliance with the rules, violations of the law. This will not be the case for Novak Djokovic who, after discussions with the tournament management, was simply called to order.
Gilles Moretton, the president of the French federation, in Télématin on France 2, clarified: “The ethical charter of the Federation concerns the licensees of the Federation, not the international players. When they are at a press conference, they have the right to express themselves in all areas. On the other hand, on the field, we wanted the players not to have a political position. We talked a lot with Djokovic’s entourage, this must not happen again. There are currently no penalties. We know he is emotional. But you have to leave the ground neutral. »
Amélie Oudéa-Castéra the Minister of Sports and the Olympic Games, on France Télévisions, added: “It was not appropriate, the director of the tournament (Amélie Mauresmo) was able to exchange with him, his entourage, it is not necessary that it starts again. There is a principle of neutrality of the field, of the game. This must not happen again. »
Novak Djokovic will play his second round this Wednesday against the Hungarian Marton Fucsovics, on the Philippe Chatrier court, as part of the flagship match of the evening session.
