<p>Amid the flag controversy at the ongoing 2023 Australian Open that had everyone talking, Srdjan Djokovic, Novak Djokovic’s father decided to watch his son’s semis clash on Friday from his home. Earlier, a video surfaced on the internet showing Novak’s father, Srdjan posing with a fan holding a Russian flag with Putin’s face on it, leading the Australian Open organisers to intervene in the matter. This photo stirred quite a backlash from a certain section of fans and current and former tennis players who asked immediate action to be taken against Novak and his father.</p>

<p>Chasing his record tenth Australian Open title, the veteran Novak will be facing unseeded American Tommy Paul in the second semi-final. Meanwhile his father, in an email statement informed everyone about his decision to not be there inside the stadium and instead be watching Novak’s crucial knockout match from home.</p>

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<p>"So there is no disruption to tonight's semi-final for my son or for the other player, I have chosen to watch from home," Srdjan said in an emailed statement.</p>

<p>It was during Novak’s quarters match on Wednesday that four fans who displayed ‘inappropriate flags and symbols’ as termed by the organisers, were questioned by the Victoria police. Several other videos and images also showed fans carrying Russian flags just outside the Rod Laver arena. Novak’s father’s video of him standing right beside a fan holding a Russian flag with Putin’s photo on it also made headlines during that time only.</p>

<p>In revert to that, Tennis Australia released a statement the next day, saying, "Players and their teams have been briefed and reminded of the event policy regarding flags and symbols and to avoid any situation that has the potential to disrupt."</p>

<p>"We continue to work closely with event security and law enforcement agencies," the statement added.</p>

<p>Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russian and Belarusian players were barred from competing at Wimbledon last year. They, however, were allowed to compete at Melbourne Park but not under their country’s flags; neither were they allowed to wear any accessories that reflect their country’s flag in any way.<br />
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Amid the flag controversy at the ongoing 2023 Australian Open that had everyone talking, Srdjan Djokovic, Novak Djokovic’s father decided to watch his son’s semis clash on Friday from his home.

Amid the flag controversy at the ongoing 2023 Australian Open that had everyone talking, Srdjan Djokovic, Novak Djokovic’s father decided to watch his son’s semis clash on Friday from his home. Earlier, a video surfaced on the internet showing Novak’s father, Srdjan posing with a fan holding a Russian flag with Putin’s face on it, leading the Australian Open organisers to intervene in the matter. This photo stirred quite a backlash from a certain section of fans and current and former tennis players who asked immediate action to be taken against Novak and his father. Chasing his record tenth Australian Open title, the veteran Novak will be facing unseeded American Tommy Paul in the second semi-final. Meanwhile his father, in an email statement informed everyone about his decision to not be there inside the stadium and instead be watching Novak’s crucial knockout match from home. ALSO READ: Sania Mirza, a trailblazer, gets an almost fitting farewell at her last Grand Slam in 2023 Australian Open "So there is no disruption to tonight's semi-final for my son or for the other player, I have chosen to watch from home," Srdjan said in an emailed statement. It was during Novak’s quarters match on Wednesday that four fans who displayed ‘inappropriate flags and symbols’ as termed by the organisers, were questioned by the Victoria police. Several other videos and images also showed fans carrying Russian flags just outside the Rod Laver arena. Novak’s father’s video of him standing right beside a fan holding a Russian flag with Putin’s photo on it also made headlines during that time only. In revert to that, Tennis Australia released a statement the next day, saying, "Players and their teams have been briefed and reminded of the event policy regarding flags and symbols and to avoid any situation that has the potential to disrupt." "We continue to work closely with event security and law enforcement agencies," the statement added. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russian and Belarusian players were barred from competing at Wimbledon last year. They, however, were allowed to compete at Melbourne Park but not under their country’s flags; neither were they allowed to wear any accessories that reflect their country’s flag in any way. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Djokovic’s father to watch son's Australian Open semis match from home after Russian flag controversy

<p>Novak Djokovic's father has been filmed posing with fans brandishing banned Russian flags at the Australian Open, including one featuring Vladimir Putin, in scenes Ukraine's ambassador Thursday slammed as "a disgrace". The Serbian star Djokovic had just booked his place in the tournament semi-final with a straight-sets thumping of Russian opponent Andrey Rublev at Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday night. After the match a group of fans unfurled Russian flags -- which are banned at Melbourne Park -- near the stadium and chanted pro-Russian and pro-Putin slogans. Tennis Australia said four people "revealed inappropriate flags and symbols and threatened security guards". Police were called and they were ejected from Melbourne Park.</p>

<p>A video later posted to a pro-Russian Australian YouTube account showed Djokovic's father Srdjan posing with a man holding a Russian flag bearing President Putin's image. The man with the flag is wearing a black T-shirt with a "Z" on it -- a symbol supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The video is captioned: "Novak Djokovic's father makes bold political statement."</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-nz-2023-opener-ruturaj-gaikwad-ruled-out-of-t20i-series-due-to-wrist-injury-556186">IND vs NZ 2023: Opener Ruturaj Gaikwad ruled out of T20I series due to wrist injury</a></p>

<p>Serbian tennis reporters confirmed it was Djokovic's father and the Melbourne Age newspaper reported he said in Serbian: "Long live Russia."</p>

<p>Spectators are banned from having Russian or Belarusian flags at the Grand Slam after Ukraine's ambassador to Australia and New Zealand, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, demanded action when they were seen among the crowd last week.</p>

<p>At the time, Russia's embassy in Australia hit back, calling it "another example of unacceptable politicisation of sports".</p>

<p>Myroshnychenko said on Twitter on Thursday that the latest incident was shameful.</p>

<p>"It's a full package. Among the Serbian flags, there is: a Russian flag, Putin, Z-symbol, so-called Donetsk People's Republic flag," he tweeted with a link to the video.</p>

<p>"It's such a disgrace... @TennisAustralia @AustralianOpen."</p>

<p>Ukrainian player Lesia Tsurenko, who was defeated in the Australian Open first round, tweeted: "No words to say."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">No words to say😨😨😨😨 <a href="https://t.co/Zc0YKFNew3">https://t.co/Zc0YKFNew3</a></p>
— Lesia Tsurenko (@LTsurenko) <a href="https://twitter.com/LTsurenko/status/1618440929689624576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Another man was photographed by AFP inside the stadium during Djokovic's match with a pro-war "Z" symbol T-shirt.</p>

<p>Ukrainian former player Alex Dolgopolov, who is currently fighting in the war, asked on Twitter: "This guy will get banned for life, at least for all Australian events, right? @AustralianOpen."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">This guy will get banned for life, at least for all Australian events, right? <a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AustralianOpen</a> <a href="https://t.co/IpP5g4q9lr">https://t.co/IpP5g4q9lr</a></p>
— Alex Dolgopolov (@TheDolgo) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheDolgo/status/1618214572061757440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Novak Djokovic's father has been filmed posing with fans brandishing banned Russian flags at the Australian Open, including one featuring Vladimir Putin, in scenes Ukraine's ambassador Thursday slammed as "a disgrace".

Novak Djokovic's father has been filmed posing with fans brandishing banned Russian flags at the Australian Open, including one featuring Vladimir Putin, in scenes Ukraine's ambassador Thursday slammed as "a disgrace". The Serbian star Djokovic had just booked his place in the tournament semi-final with a straight-sets thumping of Russian opponent Andrey Rublev at Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday night. After the match a group of fans unfurled Russian flags -- which are banned at Melbourne Park -- near the stadium and chanted pro-Russian and pro-Putin slogans. Tennis Australia said four people "revealed inappropriate flags and symbols and threatened security guards". Police were called and they were ejected from Melbourne Park. A video later posted to a pro-Russian Australian YouTube account showed Djokovic's father Srdjan posing with a man holding a Russian flag bearing President Putin's image. The man with the flag is wearing a black T-shirt with a "Z" on it -- a symbol supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The video is captioned: "Novak Djokovic's father makes bold political statement." ALSO READ: IND vs NZ 2023: Opener Ruturaj Gaikwad ruled out of T20I series due to wrist injury Serbian tennis reporters confirmed it was Djokovic's father and the Melbourne Age newspaper reported he said in Serbian: "Long live Russia." Spectators are banned from having Russian or Belarusian flags at the Grand Slam after Ukraine's ambassador to Australia and New Zealand, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, demanded action when they were seen among the crowd last week. At the time, Russia's embassy in Australia hit back, calling it "another example of unacceptable politicisation of sports". Myroshnychenko said on Twitter on Thursday that the latest incident was shameful. "It's a full package. Among the Serbian flags, there is: a Russian flag, Putin, Z-symbol, so-called Donetsk People's Republic flag," he tweeted with a link to the video. "It's such a disgrace... @TennisAustralia @AustralianOpen." Ukrainian player Lesia Tsurenko, who was defeated in the Australian Open first round, tweeted: "No words to say." No words to say😨😨😨😨 https://t.co/Zc0YKFNew3 — Lesia Tsurenko (@LTsurenko) January 26, 2023 × Another man was photographed by AFP inside the stadium during Djokovic's match with a pro-war "Z" symbol T-shirt. Ukrainian former player Alex Dolgopolov, who is currently fighting in the war, asked on Twitter: "This guy will get banned for life, at least for all Australian events, right? @AustralianOpen." This guy will get banned for life, at least for all Australian events, right? @AustralianOpen https://t.co/IpP5g4q9lr — Alex Dolgopolov (@TheDolgo) January 25, 2023 × (With inputs from agencies)

Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic's father seen posing with a man holding a Russian flag

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Djokovic’s father to watch son's Australian Open semis match from home after Russian flag controversy

Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic's father seen posing with a man holding a Russian flag