Djokovic Slammed For Lack of Action Amidst War By Tsurenko's Coach
ATP
Novak Djokovic has come under criticism by the coach of Ukrainian tennis player Lesia Tsurenko over what the coach perceives as a "lack of action" from the Serbian player regarding the War in Ukraine.
Djokovic isn’t a player who hides his stances as he’s quite openly talked about several things during his tennis career, including politics. While he doesn’t necessarily insert himself too much into the political discourse, he has been vocal about his own experience with war and how that has shaped him and his worldview.
Lesia Tsurenko's coach, Nikita Vlasov, who spoke to the Ukrainian publication Tribuna, found Djokovic's ‘inaction’ over the war in Ukraine disappointing because the Serbian player hasn’t really spoken about it too much, especially after one specific incident.
The incident happened at the Australian Open this year. Djokovic's father, Srdjan, posed for pictures with fans who wore the controversial 'Z' sign. That is the sign used by the Russian troops. Because of this incident, Djokovic's father then also missed his semi-final match at the Australian Open.
In an interview with Tribuna, Vlasov didn’t mince his words when it comes to Djokovic. He wasn't happy with what happened in Melbourne and slammed the Serbian player.
"It was a stupid situation. This is my personal opinion. Djokovic's father said 'Glory to Russia' on camera and then claimed he was misunderstood. It's not even a human act. If you said so, take responsibility for your words. Djokovic also didn't have the courage to say frankly that he didn't support his father's behavior."
Djokovic has expressed that his father’s actions have been misrepresented and that, as a family who experienced war, he would never condone such a situation. But that wasn’t good enough for Vlasov.
"At no point in his interviews did Novak directly condemn Russia's actions in Ukraine or call for the horror in our country to stop. Would it be a good time to use his status to put an end to all this, to call for peace? No, they support Russia. I was very surprised that this position was expressed so openly, so crudely. And on the occasion of such a competition."
As Vlasov mentioned, Djokovic didn't mention Russia specifically, but in his comments, he made it clear that he doesn't support any violence or war.
"We are against the war, we never will support any violence or any war. We know how devastating that is for the family, for people in any country that is going through the war.”
