| Venue: Melbourne Park Dates:16-29 January |
| Coverage: Commentary every day from 07:00 GMT on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra ‘Tennis Breakfast’ live from Melbourne, with selected live text commentaries and match reports on the BBC Sport website & app |
Srdjan Djokovic watched his son Novak’s Australian Open semi-final from home to avoid causing “disruption” after being pictured with supporters of Russian president Vladimir Putin.
The 62-year-old was photographed with a man holding a Russian flag with Putin’s face on it after his son’s win over Russia’s Andrey Rublev on Wednesday.
Nine-time champion Novak beat American Tommy Paul 7-5 6-1 6-2 on Friday.
“I am here to support my son only,” Srdjan said in a statement.
The images of Srdjan also featured a man wearing a T-shirt printed with the pro-war Z symbol following Djokovic’s quarter-final victory.
Another man was pictured in the stands wearing a similar T-shirt on Wednesday. He also attended Friday’s match wearing a different shirt.
It is understood police spoke to the man on Wednesday but accepted the Z on his shirt was a reference to his name and not the Russian war.
Russian and Belarusian flags and symbols have been banned at Melbourne Park since a Russian flag was displayed during a match between Ukraine’s Kateryna Baindl and Russia’s Kamilla Rakhimova on the opening day.
Srdjan said: “I was outside with Novak’s fans as I have done after all of my son’s matches to celebrate his wins and take pictures with them. I had no intention of being caught up in this.
“My family has lived through the horror of war, and we wish only for peace.
“So there is no disruption to [the] semi-final for my son or for the other player, I have chosen to watch from home.
“I wish for a great match and I will be cheering for my son, as always.”
Before Srdjan confirmed he would not be attending the semi-final, Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reiterated the country’s stance on pro-Russian protests.
“I will make this point, that Australia stands with the people of Ukraine. That is Australia’s position and Australia is unequivocal in our support for the rule of international law,” Albanese said at a news conference on Friday.
“We do not want to see any support given to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.”
Albanese did not respond directly to a question about whether Srdjan should be deported.
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