Novak Djokovic is in Paris, where he is set to begin his campaign at the Paris Masters tomorrow, hoping to secure a place among the top eight players who will compete at the season-ending ATP Finals.
The Serbian tennis star has not competed at the Paris tournament in the past two years. However, this time, instead of focusing solely on tennis, he also faced questions about Serbia’s recent parliamentary elections and the criticism directed at him by some government supporters.
A journalist mentioned that he had been in Serbia during the election period and that many people had spoken to him about the authorities’ attitude toward Djokovic and the criticism the tennis star had faced.
“Look, I don’t want to debate, discuss or comment on what has already happened. You know, the past is the past. I hope this marks a new beginning for our country. Yes, I am a patriot, but I have always represented my people – not the government. There is a big difference. So, I am happy to see these changes, and I hope our country will move forward and have a bright future,” Djokovic said.
He then added:
“Over the past few years, I have spoken out several times, and my support has always been unequivocal. I think most people know that and are aware of my position. I will leave it at that.
“I am grateful to enjoy a special place in our society, and it is an honor to have received such strong support from the people for so many years. On the other hand, sometimes I feel as though I am alone, as if there is an expectation that I should be the one to react. But I don’t want to dwell on that too much,” Djokovic said.
On the tennis court, Djokovic is scheduled to face Monaco’s Valentin Vacherot in his opening match in Paris.
The two have met only once before, in the semifinals of the Shanghai Masters last year, when Vacherot defeated Djokovic 2–0 in sets.
