Controversy as Novak Djokovic’s dad is seen posing with Russian flag featuring Vladimir Putin’s face

Novak Djokovic is facing more controversy after his outspoken father Srdan was filmed posing with a Russian flag that has Vladimir Putin’s face emblazoned on it.

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

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

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

Tennis superstar Novak Djokovic (left) with father Srdan. 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

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

Srdan 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.

A fan at the Australian Open has been seen wearing an ultra-nationalist Russian war symbol

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

Entirely separately on a pure tennis level, there has been speculation about how serious is a hamstring injury that he has been carrying while progressing through the tournament.

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

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

Attempts to stop them public displaying support for Putin at the tennis have not been successful, judging by Wednesday night.

Ukrainian ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko expressed his disgust at their behaviour today.

‘It’s a full package. Among the Serbian flags there is a Russian flag, Putin, Z-symbol, so called Donetsk People Republic flag. It’s such a disgrace,’ he told the Herald Sun.