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Australian Open boss Craig Tiley advises the Djokovic family to be careful

In the controversy surrounding Novak Djokovic 's father, Craig Tiley , the boss of Tennis Australia, has spoken a few warning words.

by Jens Huiber
last edit: Jan 28, 2023, 01:42 pm

Novak Djokovic and Craig Tiley at the Australian Open 2023
© Getty Images
Novak Djokovic and Craig Tiley at the Australian Open 2023

There is no doubt: Novak Djokovic has played so confidently at the Australian Open 2023 that you can definitely trust the record champion from Melbourne to be in top form even without an audience. But if the family shows up at the location of the first major in addition to the entire entourage of coaches, then Djokovic also wants to know both his mother and father in his box.

That was also the case with Djokovic's first five appearances, but in the semifinals father Srdjan took a break. Only the Djokovic family knows what tomorrow's final against Stefanos Tsitsipas will look like. Because after the success against Andrey Rublev in the quarter-finals, father Djokovic mingled with a few Serbian fans, who then waved the Russian flag, including Vladimir's likeness Putin had shown. A no-go in times of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

Tiley talks to the Djokovic family

Of course, Craig Tiley, the busy boss of Tennis Australia, couldn't like that either. Which is why Tiley also contacted the Djokovic family. "My advice is that you have to be really careful because our event is relevant globally, it's a platform."

"Of course, when you have hundreds of thousands of people coming through the gates, there will be those who want to cause trouble," Tiley continued. You shouldn't get caught up in that. "And they totally understood that. The family behaved really well. They were dismayed that it was received in this way. Novak's father in particular does not support war. And they are focused on supporting peace.”

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by Jens Huiber

Saturday
Jan 28, 2023, 03:17 pm
last edit: Jan 28, 2023, 01:42 pm