Australian Open semi-finalist Karen Khachanov says he hasn’t been advised by tennis officers to cease writing messages of assist for Artsakh.
Khachanov progressed to the ultimate 4 with victory over the injured Sebastian Korda on Tuesday, the American retiring within the third set.
A Russian with Armenian heritage, the 26-year-old has written post-match messages on the tv digicam lens akin to “Keep sturdy” and “Hold believing till the very finish. Artsakh, maintain on!”.
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He was expressing his assist to the folks of Artsakh who’re enduring a month-long blockade by Azerbaijan.
“I’ve Armenian roots from my father’s facet, from my grandfather’s facet, even from my mum’s facet – I am half Armenian,” Khachanov advised reporters after the quarter-final.
“I simply needed to point out power and assist to my folks. That is it.”
The messages have infuriated the Azerbaijan Tennis Federation, who despatched a memo to the Worldwide Tennis Federation demanding motion towards Khachanov.
However the 18th seed mentioned he hadn’t been advised to not write the messages.
“I did not hear something about that … thus far, no,” Khachanov mentioned.
The Azerbaijan Tennis Federation described his actions as a “hateful act”.
“Karen Khachanov… attracted consideration along with his hateful act,” the group mentioned in an announcement.
“The Azerbaijan Tennis Federation letter offered information and authorized paperwork concerning the provocation towards Azerbaijan.
“The ATF condemned this act and demanded the tennis participant be punished and urged the (ITF) to take harsh measures for prevention of such incidents sooner or later.”
