The Kosovo Tennis Federation (FTK) is preparing an official complaint against Novak Djokovic for writing "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence" on the camera lens on Monday following his first-round victory at Roland Garros.
"As a Serb, it hurts me what is happening in Kosovo," Djokovic said afterwards. "Our people have been driven out of the municipalities. This is the least I could do. As a public figure, I feel obliged to show support for our people and all of Serbia." Despite the criticism on social media, Djokovic said he would do it again. "I don't know if anyone will punish me, but I would do it again in a minute. I am against wars and conflicts of any kind."
Jeton Hadergjonaj, the vice president of the FTK, said it is not the first time Djokovic has done such a thing and that he will demand that the 22-time grand slam winner be fined.
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"He constantly provokes Kosovo," Hadergjonaj stated. "He says he has Kosovo roots because his father was born in Kosovo. For such a public figure to deliver such a message at this big event and in the midst of the war between Ukraine and Russia is really not helpful."
The FTK vice president said that they would send an official request to the International Tennis Federation (ITF), the tennis organisation ATP and the French Tennis Federation (FFT) to "sue Djokovic".
Kosovo used to be a province of Serbia but declared its independence in 2008. However, Serbia has never recognised that independence. Some 120,000 Serbs live in Kosovo, while the remaining 1.8 million are mostly Albanians. On Monday, tensions erupted with Serb protesters in northern Kosovo, injuring dozens of people.
