French Open: Sports Minister criticises Novak Djokovic's political message on Kosovo

French Sports Minister, Amelie Oudea-Castera, expressed her disapproval on Novak Djokovic's recent political message regarding Kosovo, stating that it was "inappropriate" and cautioned the Serbian tennis player against repeating such actions in the future.

During an interview on France 2 TV, Oudea-Castera revealed that French Open director, Amelie Mauresmo, had a discussion with Djokovic and his team emphasising the importance of maintaining "neutrality" on the field of play.

"While athletes are free to express themselves and defend human rights and universal values, Djokovic's message was overtly political and should not be repeated," Oudea-Castera explained.

Djokovic had faced criticism from Kosovo's Tennis Federation after commenting on clashes in northern Kosovo involving ethnic Serbs, police, and NATO peacekeepers.

Following his first-round victory in Paris on Monday, Djokovic wrote in Serbian on a courtside TV camera, "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence." The Kosovo Tennis Federation condemned his remarks, asserting that he was exacerbating tensions between Serbia and Kosovo.

Kosovo, previously a province of Serbia, declared independence in 2008, which Belgrade does not recognize. The majority of Kosovo's population consists of ethnic Albanians, but there is a restive Serb minority in the northern part of the country along the Serbian border.

Speaking to reporters in Serbian on Monday, Djokovic defended his actions, stating that what he wrote on the TV camera was the least he could do. He emphasized his sense of responsibility as a public figure and as the son of a man born in Kosovo.

Although French Open organizers did not mention Djokovic by name, they released a statement on Tuesday indicating that no rules had been violated, acknowledging that discussions about international news events occasionally enter the tournament's realm, which is understandable.