Explained: Novak Djokovic's Srpska Open participation and the much-debated conflict of interest
The motivation behind Novak Djokovic's 2023 Srpska Open participation and his family's connection with the ATP 250 event currently being held in Bosnia and Herzegovina have recently been the subject of much deliberation on social media.
On Wednesday, journalist Jose Morgado's claim that the tournament was owned by the Serb's family was refuted by another journalist (Twitter user: Ana Mitric). In fact, it is Romanian businessman and former tennis professional Ion Tiriac who is the licensed owner of the tournament; Djokovic's family has merely purchased the license from Tiriac to conduct the tournament.
Morgado's implication that the 22-time Grand Slam champion was playing the tournament because of his brother, who is the tournament director, was also countered as part of a Twitter exchange seeking to delve into whether or not there was a conflict of interest involved.
Without further ado, let's take a look at why Banja Luka is hosting a men's tennis event this year and the history behind the ATP 250 tournament.
The Srpska Open is replacing the Serbia Open this year
The Banja Luka event is being held as part of the ATP calendar this year since the Serbia Open, slated to be played in Belgrade, is not taking place.
Novak Djokovic's brother Djordje had earlier revealed that the tournament was shifted to Banja Luka on account of renovations currently underway at the Novak Tennis Center. The renovations are reportedly being down with a view to upgrading the tournament to the ATP 500 category.
The Serbia Open, which began in 2009, was a first-of-its-kind tournament for the country but was taken off the ATP calendar in 2013. Under the stewardship of tournament director Djordje, the event was reinstated by the ATP in 2021, while a women's tournament was also added to the WTA calendar the same year.
Complaints of a "slow court" and the Djokovic family connection
The social media exchange began when tennis writer Jose Morgado related Novak Djokovic's statement about the Srpska Open court being slow. Morgado added that the tournament license was owned by Djokovic's family, implying that they had control over things like court speed.
Djokovic says this is the slowest court he ever played.
Tournament’s license is owned by his family but they probably didn’t expect three consecutive rainy days…
This is when Ana Mitric dropped in to clarify the situation. She highlighted the fact that Ion Tiriac was the owner of the tournament and that the Romanian was planning to move the event to his country soon.
@josemorgado @JoaoPedroTL 1) The Djoković family doesn’t own the tournament license, as you originally posted. Ion Tiriac does—and he’s moving the event back to Romania next year. 2) It’s also not accurate that Novak plays the event *because* his brother is the TD.
"The Djoković family doesn’t own the tournament license, as you originally posted. Ion Tiriac does—and he’s moving the event back to Romania next year. It’s also not accurate that Novak plays the event *because* his brother is the TD"
To further elaborate her point, Ana Mitric also revealed what Novak Djokovic himself had told her during an earlier interview.
While explaining his stance with regard to the Serbia Open and his family's links with the tournament, Djokovic had said that he was aiming to make it a long-term project for his country. The 22-time Slam champion had also clarified that his family did not "own the tournament" but only rented the license, and that he himself wanted to contribute to the future of tennis in Serbia by being involved in more events that promote it.
"Actually, we don't own the tournament, we just rent the license, so it might for a few years. The license may be returned to it's original owner - we don't know. It's upto them," he was quoted as saying.
"We are working to keep this license - for this tournament and also the women's side - as long as possible. We want to make it a long-term project for our country. As a player born and raised here I feel a duty and responsibility to try and give back more than just winning tennis matches," he reportedly said.
When asked whether there was a conflict of interest involved with him playing a tournament run by his family, the World No. 1 evidently defended his brother's role.
Here is Novak Djoković responding to my question about the conflict of interest presented by the #SerbiaOpen. (The cuts and bracketed insertions are for purposes of clarity alone.) #BelgradeOpen https://t.co/lS4Ccyn916
"My brother is doing a fantastic job, I'm very proud of him. If that's something people or players might feel that's too conflictual, then I'll definitely try to find a better way to step out of it and have someone else run the tournament," he is reported to have said.
Meanwhile, despite the slow courts on site, Novak Djokovic made it to the quarterfinals of the Srpska Open after a 6(4)-7, 6-3, 6-2 win over Luca van Assche. He last won the Serbia Open back in 2011, having also bagged the title at the inaugural edition in 2009.