Serbia is “used to injustice”, the former tennis player has told the deported world number one
Novak Djokovic’s Australian exit over his Covid vaccination status is the latest injustice against his country, an ex-player has claimed while referencing the NATO bombings which the champion endured as a child in Belgrade.
The 12-year-old Djokovic had to shelter from NATO warfare in the Serbian capital when the bombing campaign took place between March and June 1999, and the tennis icon has spoken since about the effect the ordeal had on his life and career.
Djokovic’s father, Srdjan, said at the end of 2021 that he would “never forgive” the assault which purportedly aimed to force Serbian troops out of Kosovo, adding that it had left “traumas that last a lifetime”.
Now Serbian ex-Australian Open competitor Bojana Jovanovski has claimed Djokovic is fighting “world powers” and “sport against politics”, reacting to his visa saga which has seen the reigning champion at the tournament deported by the Australian government because he has not been vaccinated against Covid.
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“We have experienced various kinds of injustice, at least through our childhood,” said Belgrade-born Jovanovski, writing a passionate open letter to her beleaguered compatriot.
“Bombs were thrown by world powers at civilian facilities in our city and our youngest fellow citizens and friends were killed.
