Novak Djokovic: Ukraine demands Australian Open ban for dad for posing with Russian Putin fans 

Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia has demanded Novak Djokovic’s father is banned from the Australian Open after he was pictured with warmongering Russian fans.

Srdjan Djokovic was caught on video posing with fans waving Russian flags emblazoned with President Vladimir Putin’s head on the steps of Rod Laver Arena.

He was stood next to one wearing a t-shirt with the notorious Z symbol of the Russian military invading Ukraine and appears to tell him in Serbian: ‘Long live the Russians.’

The star’s father was warned by tennis bosses, but Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko has demanded he be banned and branded the incident ‘such a disgrace.’

Novak Djokovic’s father Srdjan is seen in footage with a Russian flag at the Australian Open

Tennis superstar Novak Djokovic (left) with father Srdjan. After watching his son’s quarter-final win at the Australian Open he was seen posing with a Russian flag featuring Vladimir Putin’s face

He wants Djokovic’s father kicked out of the tournament, and at least the player’s box, with an apology from his grand slam legend son.

‘It’s up to Tennis Australia to take action,’ he told the Herald Sun. ‘I think it would be a very good idea not to let him in.

‘I don’t know why he would say something like that considering what the Russians are doing in Ukraine, how many people they have killed, tortured, raped and all the summary executions that have happened against civilians.’

He said allowing Djokovic’s father to sit in the high-profile player’s box for Friday night’s semi-final against Tommy Paul would send the world the wrong message.

The call for a ban was backed by Stefan Romaniw, co-chair of the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations, who said the star’s father must not get special treatment.

‘Tennis Australia must show it is strong and principled and revoke his accreditation and force him to leave,’ he said.

‘Tennis Australia evicted others who flaunted the ban. Why a ­distinction here?’

Video revealing the controversial moment emerged on a pro-Russia YouTube channel.

A fan at the Australian Open was seen wearing Russia’s ultra-nationalist ‘Z’ war symbol

Soon after the Serbian star reached the semi-finals on Thursday night, his father mingled with fans declaring their support for Russia. Police and Tennis Australia later confirmed that four spectators were evicted from Melbourne Park.

Australian Open entry rules forbid any flags in support of Russia or Belarus.

A video posted on YouTube shows Srdjan posing alongside the flag and a sympathiser who shouts ‘Long Live Russia!’ 

Srdjan is shown being warmly greeted by his son’s fans and then appears to say something supportive before moving on.

The parent was particularly outspoken last year when his son was deported after being detained as a result of not being vaccinated, accusing the Australian state of trying to ‘assassinate’ his superstar offspring.

The player himself has desperately tried to avoid controversy since arriving in Australia to focus on his title efforts as he prepares to meet American Tommy Paul in the semi-final on Friday. 

Unwittingly or not, on Wednesday he could be seen signing something for a man who had earlier been wearing a ‘Z’ T-shirt – Z having become the makeshift logo of the Russian invaders of Ukraine.

As a result, an embarrassed Tennis Australia issued a general warning at a tournament where players from the aggressor nations are still part of the draw.

Srdjan Djokovic and wife Dijana watch Novak during his quarter-final win over Andrey Rublev on Wednesday

A group of fans chanted ‘Russia, Serbia’ in a reminder of the two countries’ close cultural ties

‘A small group of people displayed inappropriate flags and symbols and threatened security guards following a match on Wednesday night and were evicted,’ it read. 

‘One patron is now assisting police with unrelated matters. Players and their teams have been briefed and reminded of the event policy regarding flags and symbols and to avoid any situation that has the potential to disrupt. 

‘We continue to work closely with event security and law enforcement agencies,’ read the statement.

Separately, there has been speculation about the seriousness of a hamstring injury the tennis champion has been carrying while progressing through the tournament.

A faction of Serbian fans at Melbourne Park have been keen to demonstrate kinship for Russia, in spite of the massive human cost of the Ukraine invasion on both sides.