Kosovo - players.bio

Novak Djokovic advances at French Open then sends political message about Kosovo

Novak Djokovic eased into the second round of the French Open but risked inflaming political tensions in his home region with a message about Kosovo.

Novak Djokovic Courts Controversy With Kosovo 'Heart Of Serbia' Message

NATO-led peacekeepers on Monday dispersed Serb protesters who again clashed with police in northern Kosovo to demand the removal of recently elected Albanian mayors, as ethnic tensions flared in the Balkan nation. Around 25 soldiers were injured during the clashes, along with over 50 demonstrators. Kosovo's Serbs had boycotted last month's elections in the northern towns, which allowed ethnic Albanians to take control of local councils despite a minuscule turnout of under 3.5 percent of voters.

Carlos Alcaraz Says He Felt 'Invincible' In French Open Win

Novak Djokovic courted controversy Monday when he wrote "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence" on a camera at the French Open after clashes flared in northern Kosovo amid ethnic tensions. The Belgrade-born tennis superstar wrote the message in Serbian after his opening round victory over Aleksandar Kovacevic on the showpiece Philippe Chatrier Court at Roland Garros. "Kosovo is our cradle, our stronghold, centre of the most important things for our country... There are many reasons why I wrote that on the camera," 36-year-old Djokovic told Serb media at the tournament.

Serbia calls on NATO-led forces to guarantee security inside Kosovo

Serbia's defence minister Miloš Vučević has called on the NATO-led Kosovo forces, or KFOR, to guarantee security inside Kosovo following clashes on Friday between police and ethnic Serbs that left more than a dozen injured on both sides. Serbia's border police have also been put on high alert.