"The Olympic Authorities of Kosovo Call on IOC to Address Novak Djokovic"

The Kosovo Olympic Committee (KOK) has called for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to open disciplinary proceedings against Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic over his recent comments at the French Open. Djokovic wrote the message, “Kosovo is the heart of Serbia,” on a camera lens after winning his first-round match on Monday. The plea to the IOC follows clashes between Serb protestors and Nato peacekeeping troops that saw 30 soldiers injured in the town of Zvecan in Kosovo.

Djokovic later insisted that he was opposed to conflict but defended his views, saying that Kosovo’s situation was a “precedent”. KOK President Ismet Krasniqi accused Djokovic of promoting “Serbian nationalists’ propaganda” and urged the IOC to open proceedings. Earlier, Kosovo’s tennis federation had described the comments as “regrettable”. As unrest has increased, the number of Nato troops in Kosovo has risen by 700.

The IOC has yet to respond to the request for proceedings to be opened.

Djokovic is seeking a record 23rd grand slam title and is scheduled to face Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics in his second-round match later today.