Novak Djokovic began his bid for a males’s file twenty third Grand Slam singles title with a straight-sets victory over Aleksandar Kovacevic within the French Open first spherical.
The two-time Roland Garros champion held off a late rally from his American opponent on Court Philippe Chatrier to clinch a 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 victory.
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He has nonetheless not misplaced in his opening match of a significant because the 2006 Australian Open.
“I want to dominate whoever I play against regardless of the circumstances and who is across the net, but sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t,” mentioned Djokovic after kicking off his nineteenth consecutive French Open marketing campaign.
It was after his opening spherical victory nevertheless that Djokovic brought on a stir when he wrote a message on the lens of the TV digicam as he walked off court docket.
“Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop violence,” Djokovic wrote because the message was displayed on the massive display screen.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 however regardless of being recognised by over 100 international locations, Serbia nonetheless considers it to be part of its nation – refusing to recognise it as an indepenent state. Effectively stopping Kosovo from having a seat on the United Nations.
The post-game message from Djokovic follows in that sentiment by showing to disclaim Kosovo its independence.
It’s not the primary time the Serbian star has spoken out together with his first remarks coming shortly after Kosovo declared its indepence from Serbia in 2008.
The scenario in Kosovo has been more and more fraught in current instances after Serbia put its army on excessive alert and introduced troops had been being despatched to the border.
Earlier within the day, earlier than Djokovic’s match, NATO peacekeeping troopers had been injured in clashes with Serbian protestors.
Social media went right into a flurry with the message ruffling feathers in Serbia.
The 36-year-old addressed his message and the continued scenario in his residence nation throughout his post-match press convention.
“I am not a politician and I have no intention of getting into political debates,” Djokovic mentioned.
“As a Serb, it hurts me what is happening in Kosovo, our people have been expelled from the municipalities. I feel the responsibility as a public figure to show support, and I especially feel it as the son of a man who was born in Kosovo, This is the least I could do.
“I feel an obligation to show support for our people and all of Serbia. I think many do not know what the future holds for Kosovo, but it is important to show harmony in situations like this. I hear there was a lot of criticism on social media. I don’t know if someone will punish me or something like that.
“But I would do it again. I am against wars and conflicts of any kind. Kosovo is our hearth, stronghold, the centre of the most important events, the biggest battle took place there, the most monasteries. There are many reasons why I wrote this.”
The 22-time Grand Slam champ will face Hungarian Marton Fucsovics, who he has overwhelmed 4 instances in as many conferences, within the second spherical.
Djokovic is barely seeded third at Roland Garros this yr regardless of the absence of his nice rival and 14-time winner Rafael Nadal by means of harm, behind world primary Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev.
He is tied with Nadal for many males’s Slam singles trophies and only one behind the 23 of Serena Williams. Margaret Court holds the all-time file of 24.
Kovacevic, the world quantity 114 enjoying in his first Grand Slam match, battled laborious however couldn’t put Djokovic beneath sustained stress till it was too late.
Djokovic eased by means of the primary two units, earlier than Kovacevic did break for the primary time within the match to degree the third set at 3-3, solely to drop serve once more instantly.
Djokovic uncharacteristically stumbled when serving for the match as Kovacevic pressured a tie-break to the delight of the group.
But the world quantity three rapidly regrouped, dominating the breaker earlier than ending Kovacevic’s resistance on his first match level with a thumping forehand return.
– with AFP
Source: www.news.com.au
