Novak Djokovic: Ukraine demands Australian Open ban for dad for posing with Russian Putin fans - Daily Mail
Novak Djokovic: Ukraine demands Australian Open ban for dad for posing with Russian Putin fans - Daily Mail
Jan 26, 20231 min, 19 secs
Ukraine's ambassador to Australia has demanded Novak Djokovic's father be banned from the Australian Open after he posed for photos with fans waving Russian flags which are banned from the tournament.Srdjan Djokovic was seen on video posing with fans waving Russian flags emblazoned with President Vladimir Putin's face on the steps of Rod Laver Arena.He was standing next to one fan wearing a t-shirt with the Z symbol of the Russian military and appears to tell him in Serbian: 'Long live the Russians.'The star's father was warned over his conduct by Tennis Australia bosses, but Ukraine's ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko has demanded he be banned from attending the Open and branded the incident 'such a disgrace.'Novak Djokovic's father Srdjan is seen in footage with a Russian flag at the Australian OpenTennis superstar Novak Djokovic (left) with father Srdjan.After watching his son's quarter-final win at the Australian Open he was seen posing with a Russian flag featuring Vladimir Putin's faceHe wants Djokovic's father kicked out of the tournament, and at least the player's box, with an apology from his grand slam legend son.'It's up to Tennis Australia to take action,' he told the Herald Sun.'It would be a very good idea not to let him in.'I don’t know why he would say something like that considering what the Russians are doing in Ukraine, how many people they have killed, tortured, raped and all the summary executions that have happened against civilians.'He said allowing Djokovic's father to sit in the high-profile player's box for Friday night's semi-final against Tommy Paul would send the world the wrong message.The call for a ban was backed by Stefan Romaniw, co-chair of the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations.'Tennis Australia must show it is strong and principled and revoke his accreditation and force him to leave,' he said.'Tennis Australia evicted others who flaunted the ban.