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- Djokovic scrawled the message "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence" on a camera following his first-round match
- "It was a message that is very activist, that is very political," Amelie Oudea-Castera told broadcaster France 2
PARIS: Novak Djokovic will take to Court Philippe Chatrier in Wednesday鈥檚 French Open night session under fire for his recent comments about clashes in Kosovo, after world number one Carlos Alcaraz also plays in the second round.
Djokovic, who is chasing a men鈥檚 record 23rd Grand Slam singles title at Roland Garros, scrawled the message 鈥淜osovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence鈥� on a camera following his first-round match.
The 36-year-old faces Hungarian Marton Fucsovics for a place in the last 32 but the focus has been on his political views, with the French sports minister on Wednesday condemning the two-time Roland Garros champion.
鈥淚t was a message that is very activist, that is very political,鈥� Amelie Oudea-Castera told broadcaster France 2.
鈥淵ou shouldn鈥檛 get involved, especially in the current circumstances, and it shouldn鈥檛 happen again.鈥�
She added that tournament director Amelie Mauresmo had spoken to Djokovic and his entourage.
Thirty peacekeepers from a NATO-led force in Kosovo were injured in clashes with ethnic Serb demonstrators on Monday during protests about the installation of ethnic Albanian mayors in northern Kosovo.
鈥淜osovo is our cradle, our stronghold, center of the most important things for our country... There are many reasons why I wrote that on the camera,鈥� Djokovic told Serb media after writing his message.
Djokovic will be hoping for less drama on the court against an opponent he has beaten four times in as many meetings.
He has not failed to reach the third round of a Grand Slam tournament since the 2017 Australian Open.
In Wednesday鈥檚 early action, Stefanos Tsitsipas cruised into the third round with a straight-sets win over Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena.
The Greek fifth seed, the runner-up to Djokovic in 2021, claimed a 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 win on Court Suzanne Lenglen.
Tsitsipas will next face either Argentinian Diego Schwartzman or Portugal鈥檚 Nuno Borges for a place in the second week.
Elina Svitolina battled back from a break and a set down to beat Storm Hunter, just 12 hours after her husband Gael Monfils鈥� late-night escape act.
Ukrainian Svitolina, playing at a Grand Slam event for the first time since the 2022 Australian Open, downed qualifier Hunter 2-6, 6-3, 6-1.
Home favorite Monfils claimed his first win in nine months in a five-set first-round thriller against Sebastian Baez which finished after midnight in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
鈥淵es, I watched him, but not live. I was screaming in my room so if someone heard me, it was me cheering for Gael,鈥� said Svitolina, who was being supported on Court Simonne Mathieu by Monfils.
American third seed Jessica Pegula booked her spot in the last 32 when opponent Camila Giorgi retired injured after losing the first set 6-2.
Former champion Jelena Ostapenko crashed out, though, losing 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 to the United States鈥� Peyton Stearns.
Later, Alcaraz continues his bid for a second major title against Japan鈥檚 Taro Daniel, while world number two Aryna Sabalenka plays Iryna Shymanovich in an all-Belarusian women鈥檚 tie.