© AFP
Novak Djokovic regretted having to do without his father’s support in his Australian Open semifinal on Friday. The Serbian hopes that the latter will be there again on Sunday during the final.
BelgianBron: BELGIAN
“It was not pleasant not to have him in the box during the semi-finals. I hope he will be there for the final,” said Djokovic after his three-set win against American Tommy Paul.
Father Srdjan had decided to stay away from the Rod Laver Arena on Friday afternoon in order not to cause a fuss. Shortly before, the Ukrainian ambassador had demanded that his accreditation for the tournament be withdrawn after photos surfaced of the man posing alongside pro-Russian supporters in Melbourne.
Djokovic during the press conference afterwards. — © AFP
Just like his father did before, Novak Djokovic reiterated that there were no bad intentions. “As my father explained before, after all my games he went to greet the supporters to thank them and to take pictures. But everything started with an unfortunate translation of his words in certain media. He does not support any war in any way.”
The nine-time Australian Open winner, who will face Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas on Sunday, also echoed the words his father had used in a press release to explain his absence from the semi-final: “Our family has lived through the horrors of war and all we wish for is peace,” Srdjan Djokovic had written.