For the first time things went really wrong in 2007 as the Croatian and Serbian fans at Melbourne Park and more than 150 people were removed from the grounds after attacking their rivals with fists, sticks, bottles and flagpoles.
This year the organizers were concerned that there could be trouble looming in when Marin Cilic from Croatia and Janko Tipsarevic from Serbia entered the court, but the four set encounter went on without any significant difficulties.
It was the match between Bosnian-born Amer Delic and France's Paul-Henri Mathieu when the troubles set off. Bosnian and Serbian fans traded ethnic chants, which made it impossible for the players to concentrate on their game.
“I couldn’t control any of that, though I was trying to. I felt bad for Paul and I apologized to him right after.” said the Delic.
Mathieu complained that the fans were like noisy soccer fans and were disrespectful. The Frenchman wasn't the only one being unhappy with so called Serbian fan base. Phil Dent, who's son Taylor lost a five set battle to Delic charged that the Bosnian fans had heckled and taunted his son.
Delic, who is representing USA, will now face Serbia's best - Novak Djokovic. The 26 year old, who came into the main draw as a lucky loser, is aware of the fact, that this rubber could also end up in a mess.
“I just hope the next match with Novak doesn’t turn into a World War III,” he said. “I’m going to try to tell my fans that we don’t need to be embarrassing ourselves in front of the world. I’m hoping Novak says something to Serbian fans, also. Leave the politics aside. It’s not my fault and it’s not Novak’s fault. We’re out here playing tennis and we need to keep it that way.”
Well, this could get interesting. Are we in for a World War III?
~jachal
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