French Open: Djokovic gets embroiled in controversy, faces criticism from Kosovo Tennis Federation

Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic has put himself at the center of yet another controversy.

The World No. 3 has drawn criticism from Kosovo's Tennis Federation for expressing his views on the clashes in northern Kosovo.

Following his first-round victory on Monday, Djokovic took the opportunity to convey a message in Serbian on a courtside TV camera, stating, "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence."

This statement led to a strong condemnation from Kosovo on Tuesday, accusing Djokovic of exacerbating tensions with Serbia.

Kosovo, once a province of Serbia, declared independence in 2008, a move that Belgrade has not recognized. While the majority of Kosovo's population is ethnic Albanian, there is a significant Serb minority residing in the northern region bordering Serbia.

In response to escalating clashes, NATO announced on Tuesday its decision to deploy an additional 700 troops to northern Kosovo, aiming to quell the violent protests that resulted in 30 international soldiers being injured.

The tensions escalated when ethnic Albanian officials, elected in votes largely boycotted by Serbs, entered municipal buildings, leading to confrontations with Serbs who attempted to block their access. Kosovo police resorted to using tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Addressing reporters in Serbian, Djokovic defended his actions on Monday, stating that his message on the TV camera was "the least I could do." He emphasized his sense of responsibility as a public figure and as the son of a man born in Kosovo.

Although not explicitly mentioning Djokovic by name, the French Open organizers issued a statement on Tuesday, indicating that no rules had been violated, acknowledging that discussions regarding international news events sometimes intertwine with the tournament.