Extra hassle seems to be looming for Australian Open favourite Novak Djokovic, with an unearthed clip displaying stress between him and his semi-final opponent.
Footage emerged on social media on Friday of a clip of Djokovic and Tommy Paul on the 2022 Laver Cup.
It reveals the Serbian star hugging America’s Frances Tiafoe, embracing different officers, and shaking the arms of a number of gamers in Crew America.
However Paul, who Djokovic performs in Melbourne on Friday night time, turned his again because the Serb approached, showing to snub his handshake.
As Djokovic walks away from the group, Paul turns again round and appears in Djokovic’s course.
It is unclear whether or not the timing was coincidental, or if Paul has ‘beef’ with the Serbian celebrity.
However social media customers have been sure the clip would ruffle Djokovic’s feathers if he noticed it forward of his Friday night time match.
“If Novak remembers, then I can see what is going on to occur within the semis,” one Twitter consumer wrote.
One mentioned Paul was a “lifeless man strolling”, whereas one other mentioned his transfer was out of character.
“I discover this beautiful weird. Tommy Paul is likely one of the classiest guys on tour and it appears out of character,” they wrote.
“I would wish to know extra.”
Flag drama continues
Djokovic already has loads of hassle on his arms after footage emerged of his father showing to mingle with pro-Russia, pro-Putin protesters on the steps of Rod Laver Enviornment on Wednesday night time.
As he leaves the group, Mr Djokovic might be heard within the footage saying in Serbian: “Lengthy stay the Russians.”
Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, referred to as on Friday for Tennis Australia to strip Srdjan Djokovic of his access to Melbourne Park.
“It is as much as Tennis Australia to take motion,” he instructed Information Corp.
“I feel it might be an excellent thought to not let him in.
“I do not know why he would say one thing like that contemplating what the Russians are doing in Ukraine, how many individuals they’ve killed, tortured, raped and all of the abstract executions which have occurred towards civilians.”
Greater than a day after the footage emerged, no motion seems to have been taken. Mr Djokovic is anticipated to seem at his son’s Melbourne Park match.
The Djokovic camp can also be but to make any public statements on the uproar – organising a probable grilling from journalists for the Serbian star after Friday night time’s semi-final.
Tennis Australia issued a press release on Thursday that didn’t instantly handle Mr Djokovic’s actions.
“A small group of individuals displayed inappropriate flags and symbols and threatened safety guards following a match on Wednesday night time and have been evicted,” it learn.
“One patron is now aiding the police with unrelated issues.
“Gamers and their groups have been briefed and reminded of the occasion coverage relating to flags and symbols and to keep away from any scenario that has the potential to disrupt.
“We proceed to work intently with occasion safety and regulation enforcement companies.”
Dutton’s dig
In Victoria on Friday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was requested if Mr Djokovic needs to be deported for his controversial act. He didn’t reply instantly, saying solely:
“Australia stands with the individuals of Ukraine. That’s Australia’s place and Australia is unequivocal in our help for the rule of worldwide regulation,” he mentioned.
“We don’t wish to see any help given to the Russian invasion of Ukraine that’s having a devastating affect on the individuals of Ukraine.”
Federal Opposition Chief Peter Dutton additionally referred to as out Mr Djokovic.
“The Russian onslaught continues, and admittedly all people of goodwill needs to be attempting to discourage, not encourage Putin,” Mr Dutton instructed the 9 Community.
“It is a weird act – typically you see these [things] from tennis mother and father and others over time, however it’s a difficulty for Tennis Australia.”
Former participant and Victorian opposition sports activities spokesperson Sam Groth referred to as on the state authorities and occasion organizers to “put an finish to those unacceptable behaviours”.
“Acts of incitement don’t have any place in our state and no place at our main occasions,” he mentioned.
“The Australian Open should be a welcoming, protected and inclusive occasion for all, not a possibility to precise a dangerous and offensive agenda or intentionally intimidate others.
Khachanov in scorching water
Whereas the outrage over Mr Djokovic continues, one other males’s singles semi-finalist has additionally discovered himself on the heart of geopolitical controversy.
Russian 18th seed Karen Khachanov has written pro-Armenia messages on TV cameras after a number of of his matches through the event.
Khachanov, who’s half-Armenian, has written “Artsakh keep sturdy” – referring to the Nagorno-Karabakh area of Azerbaijan, which has been embroiled in battle for many years.
On Friday, the Azerbaijan Tennis Federation demanded that the Worldwide Tennis Federation take motion towards Khachanov.
In a letter to the ITF, Azerbaijan’s tennis federation referred to as for sanctions on Khachanov, and for measures to forestall him from making “unacceptable provocations” sooner or later.
The ITF mentioned it had handed the letter on to the “related authorities”.
“Guidelines for participant conduct at a grand slam occasion are ruled by the grand slam rulebook administered by the related organizer and regulator,” it mentioned.
Khachanov mentioned the Australian Open had issued no warning. He defended his actions in a post-match convention on Wednesday, saying he meant no hurt.
“I say many occasions. I’ve Armenian roots,” Khachanov mentioned.
“From my father’s aspect, from my grandfather’s aspect, even from my mother’s aspect. I am half Armenian.
“To be trustworthy, I do not wish to go deeper than that, and I simply needed to point out power and help to my individuals. That is it.”
Azarenka fires up
With two of the boys’s semi-finalists embroiled in political controversy, one girls’s semi-finalist is refusing to become involved.
Azarenka, who’s Belarusian, misplaced out on a spot within the finals to reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina.
Azarenka unloaded when requested if Djokovic’s controversy had affected her or different gamers in Melbourne. She referred to as the questions “provocative”, and requested what “the aim” was with them.
“I do not know what you guys need us to do about it. Like discuss it? I do not know what is the aim right here that it is constantly introduced up,” she mentioned.
“These incidents that, in my view, don’t have anything to do with gamers, however by some means you retain dragging gamers into it. So what is the aim right here? I feel you need to ask your self that query, not me.”
The moderator shut down additional questions on the subject.
Azarenka was considered one of three semi-finalists throughout the ladies’s and males’s attracts to compete as impartial athletes in Melbourne.
Fellow Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, who will play in Saturday’s girls’s singles ultimate, has additionally been barred from representing her nation. Her Russian opponent, Elena Rybakina, will symbolize Kazakhstan.
Rybakina was born in Moscow and nonetheless lives there. However she strategically switched her nationality in 2018 to acquire extra funding for her singles profession.
Within the males’s draw, Russian Karen Khachanov has no flag subsequent to his title.
‘Be higher ready’
Wednesday night time’s pro-Russian protest has stoked fears that of comparable scenes at different grand slams this 12 months.
Tennis correspondent James Grey mentioned the British authorities had already instructed Wimbledon organizers to be ready to forestall protesters hijacking the distinguished occasion.
Wimbledon took a agency stance final 12 months when it banned Russian and Belarusian gamers altogether as a punishment for the invasion of Ukraine.
That meant Wimbledon 2022 was stripped of rating factors – girls’s winner Rybakina and the boys’s victor, Djokovic, earned no rating factors for his or her respective victories.
Wimbledon organizers are mulling whether or not to increase the ban into 2023.
On the Australian Open this week, tennis legend Billie Jean King urged Wimbledon to rethink, saying “life is just too brief”.
“Simply maintain it the identical approach as the opposite ones are. Life is just too brief,” mentioned King.
“I feel they need to get prize cash. Simply have them play and get their cash.”
Tennis nice John McEnroe mentioned he didn’t consider Russian and Belarusian gamers needs to be punished.
“Clearly that is an horrific scenario which is happening within the warfare and folks cope with it in several methods,” he instructed Reuters.
“I disagreed with it final 12 months that Wimbledon did not enable the Russians or Belarusian gamers to play. I’d disagree with it this 12 months. I do not know what they are going to do.
“It is a scenario that nobody needs. So hopefully one thing will change that permits the gamers to play. It occurs that in our sport, a few of our high female and male gamers come from these two international locations. They should not, I do not consider, be punished for one thing that they don’t have anything to do with.”
