Latest news with #Serbian
United News of India
5 hours ago
- Sport
- United News of India
Djokovic outclasses Moutet in straight sets
Paris, May 30 (UNI)Serbian tennis icon Novak Djokovic advanced to the third round of the French Open with a commanding straight-sets victory over local favourite Corentin Moutet 6-3, 6-2, 7-6(1) in a night session encounter at Court Suzanne Lenglen on Thursday. The Serbian ace, seeking his fourth Roland Garros crown and a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title, was in clinical touch throughout the contest, silencing a partisan French spectators with his trademark baseline precision and superior shot selection. Despite the electrifying atmosphere created by home fans rallying behind Moutet, Djokovic remained composed. He broke the Frenchman's serve five times during the match while saving three of the five break points he faced. Though Moutet showed flashes of brilliance and even took the third set to a tiebreak, Djokovic tightened the screws in the decider, running away with it 7-1. The 37-year-old struck five aces and committed just two double faults, while winning a total of 120 points to Moutet's 93. 'I'm happy with the way I played, especially in the first two sets,' said Djokovic after the match. 'Corentin is a tough opponent with the crowd behind him, but I stayed focused and raised my level when it mattered.' Djokovic will face the winner of the match between Lorenzo Musetti and Gaël Monfils in the third round. UNI BDN ARN
Kuwait Times
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Kuwait Times
Stateless in Serbia: Russians, Belarusians left in limbo
NOVI SAD: More than 20 Russians and Belarusians living in Serbia have become 'stateless' after not being granted the Serbian nationality they had applied for. Most have lived in Serbia for more than a decade — buying property, starting businesses and raising children born in the country — where they are now basically trapped, unable to leave. Up to two years after renouncing their original nationality — which is required under Serbian rules — none has received a clear explanation from authorities for the delay. 'It has now been almost a year and a half that I've been without any citizenship,' former Russian citizen Igor Grishin told AFP. 'And I don't know how long it will last,' he added. 'A month, a year... or the rest of my life.' The 58-year-old health podcaster has lived for 11 years in the northern town of Sremski Karlovci with his wife and two daughters. His wife and older daughter obtained Serbian citizenship earlier, while the younger acquired it by birth. 'I cannot travel with my family,' Grishin said. 'I couldn't go to my mother's funeral in the Russian Federation and I cannot even visit her grave,' he added. Grishin is in contact with more than 20 others in the same situation — though these are only the known cases. Those AFP spoke to claim they have never expressed any political views — either about Russia or Serbia — which in the past has cost some Russians in Serbia their residency there. All said they had passed all security checks and renounced their original nationality as the final step. Big Russian influx 'Serbia gave us confirmation — a guarantee — that it would accept us if we renounced our citizenship,' Sergei Stets, a former Belarusian citizen who lives in Novi Sad, told AFP. 'I've now been without any citizenship for a year and a half,' said the 46-year-old former mountain bike coach from Minsk. 'I feel as if we're not wanted — neither there, nor here,' he said. Once the selector of Serbia's national team, he had to give it up because he is unable to leave the country, and now gets by delivering meals on his bike. His wife, a horse-riding and equine therapy instructor, faces the same issue, having previously worked across the region. 'I wrote to the police several times. The answer was always the same — the documentation is under review, and I need to wait,' he said. The Ombudsman's Office confirmed that they 'are aware of the issue', adding that 'the review of complaints is ongoing'. 'Special' cases linked to FSB Every country has the right to conduct additional checks, said experts on migration and asylum. 'Although they completed all procedures and renounced their previous citizenship, the process can still take time,' Rados Djurovic, a lawyer and director of the Asylum Protection Center NGO, told AFP. However, 'there is no justification for keeping people in an unregulated status long-term,' he added. Djurovic said outside factors linked to 'state policy and international relations' may also be to blame for the delays. Proposed amendments to the Citizenship Law in October 2023 aimed at simplifying the process for foreigners were withdrawn after objections from the European Commission. 'The more liberal reforms drew criticism from Europe, with concerns that easing citizenship rules could pose risks to Western countries,' with Serbian citizens allowed to travel freely in the EU without a visa. Despite being a candidate for EU membership, Serbia maintains close ties with Russia and has not joined Western sanctions — including visa restrictions — imposed on Moscow. As a result, demand for Serbian passports has surged, with between 80,000 and 110,000 Russians settling in the country in recent years, according to the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP). While some applicants remain in limbo, others — notably influential Russians — have reportedly obtained citizenship through special procedures. Last month the respected outlet KRIK revealed that 204 Russian nationals were granted Serbian passports for 'national interest' reasons. The list includes individuals linked to Russia's FSB security service, war profiteers from Ukraine and oligarchs under international sanctions. Serbian authorities have not commented on the report. — AFP
NDTV
7 hours ago
- Sport
- NDTV
French Open: Novak Djokovic Moves Into Third Round With Victory Over Corentin Moutet
Serbian tennis icon Novak Djokovic marched into the third round of the ongoing French Open, defeating Corentin Moutet in his second round game in the French capital on Thursday. As per ATP's official website, Djokovic, who is chasing his 25th Grand Slam title, eliminated Moutet from the competition with a 6-3, 6-2, 7-6(1) win. Moutet entertained the crowd with some fighting tennis, some unbelievably deft drop shots which made Djokovic struggle at times. However, the class and big game experience of the Serbian maestro was too much. During his match that lasted just over three hours, Djokovic displayed the top form that landed him his 100th ATP Tour-level title recently after he beat Hubert Hurkacz for the Geneva Open title. This string of wins comes after opening round losses in Monte Carlo and Madrid in April. The world number six in the ATP Rankings has been in top form at Paris, having eased past Mackenzie McDonald in the opener. Speaking after the game, Djokovic was quoted as saying by the ATP website, "Mentally I had to stay concentrated and prepared for a match like that. Corentin is a player who has great speed, it was a great battle, especially the third set. I saved a set point... At that moment, anything is possible. I found a shot to stay in the set, a good service. I think in general I played well, I managed to stay calm on court, which was not easy at times." Earlier, world number one Jannik Sinner shut the curtain down on Richard Gasquet's career as he soared to a convincing win to qualify for the third round. In his 22nd appearance at the clay-court major in Paris, the 38-year-old Gasquet's last dance concluded with a 6-3, 6-0, 6-4 defeat in a fixture that lasted for one hour and 58 minutes. On the other hand, the number one-ranked tennis star extended his Grand Slam winning streak to 16, making him the first man born in 1990 or later to accomplish the feat. Listen to the latest songs, only on
West Australian
7 hours ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Novak Djokovic's longtime friend and physio Miljan Amanovic rushed to hospital during French Open
Novak Djokovic's French Open campaign has been rocked by the sudden hospitalisation of his longtime friend and physio, Miljan Amanovic. Amanovic has been in the 24-time grand slam champion's inner circle for several years, and sits in his players' box during matches. The Serbian tennis legend provided an update on his friend on Friday (AEST), but wouldn't be drawn into details of the 'serious' health issue. 'Unfortunately, Miljan is in the hospital,' Djokovic said. 'He had a serious situation today and underwent surgery. 'I wouldn't want to go into more detail than that.' The 38-year-old said everyone in his team is worried. 'We're all very concerned,' Djokovic added. 'He's currently stable, but the situation isn't ideal. 'He'll have to stay in the hospital for a few days. 'We're all worried. I hope everything will be alright.' With Amanovic front-of-mind, Djokovic found it a bit of a slog to put away the eccentric Corentin Moutet 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (7-1) in more than three hours to stay on course to go past the record of 24 grand slams that he currently shares with Margaret Court. He had to survive a set point in the third set and also needed some medical treatment on the sore toes on his left foot. 'He had set point,' said Djokovic. 'At that moment anything could happen but I stayed in the set. At the right time, I found a good serve.' 'Obviously, motivation now is to make more history,' added the phenomenon who's looking in ominous form after his 100th title win in Geneva and will face either Canada's Denis Shapovalov or Austrian Filip Misolic in round three. The 38-year-old admitted it's not as easy to back up from match to match anymore at his age, compounding the absence felt without his physio. 'Look, the recovery time is not much longer, I feel like,' he said. 'I mean, I'm pretty fit at the moment. I don't feel like I have any major issues. Although it took me, like, almost an hour to deal with the blister and the bleeding that I had. 'So they had to use the injections and draw the blood out and then inject something to dry out the blister. So that was, you know, not really a pleasant process. But it is something that, you know, anyone who has blisters that are bleeding has to do it. 'So that's why I'm also late with you guys, and I'm sorry for that. But I don't think it's going to be an issue for me to recover. I mean, three hours was a lot of running, straight sets, but a three-hour match is a good three-hour session. 'Good thing about slams obviously you have a day in between. So plenty of time to recover and get ready for the next one.'
Perth Now
7 hours ago
- Health
- Perth Now
Hospitalisation rocks Novak Djokovic's French Open campaign
Novak Djokovic's French Open campaign has been rocked by the sudden hospitalisation of his longtime friend and physio, Miljan Amanovic. Amanovic has been in the 24-time grand slam champion's inner circle for several years, and sits in his players' box during matches. The Serbian tennis legend provided an update on his friend on Friday (AEST), but wouldn't be drawn into details of the 'serious' health issue. 'Unfortunately, Miljan is in the hospital,' Djokovic said. 'He had a serious situation today and underwent surgery. 'I wouldn't want to go into more detail than that.' The 38-year-old said everyone in his team is worried. 'We're all very concerned,' Djokovic added. 'He's currently stable, but the situation isn't ideal. 'He'll have to stay in the hospital for a few days. 'We're all worried. I hope everything will be alright.' Novak Djokovic getting stretched by his physiotherapist Miljan Amanovic. Credit: Peter Staples/ATP Tour / ATP Tour via Getty Images With Amanovic front-of-mind, Djokovic found it a bit of a slog to put away the eccentric Corentin Moutet 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (7-1) in more than three hours to stay on course to go past the record of 24 grand slams that he currently shares with Margaret Court. He had to survive a set point in the third set and also needed some medical treatment on the sore toes on his left foot. Djokovic struggled with blisters on his left foot during the match. Credit: DeFodi Images / DeFodi Images via Getty Images 'He had set point,' said Djokovic. 'At that moment anything could happen but I stayed in the set. At the right time, I found a good serve.' 'Obviously, motivation now is to make more history,' added the phenomenon who's looking in ominous form after his 100th title win in Geneva and will face either Canada's Denis Shapovalov or Austrian Filip Misolic in round three. The 38-year-old admitted it's not as easy to back up from match to match anymore at his age, compounding the absence felt without his physio. 'Look, the recovery time is not much longer, I feel like,' he said. 'I mean, I'm pretty fit at the moment. I don't feel like I have any major issues. Although it took me, like, almost an hour to deal with the blister and the bleeding that I had. 'So they had to use the injections and draw the blood out and then inject something to dry out the blister. So that was, you know, not really a pleasant process. But it is something that, you know, anyone who has blisters that are bleeding has to do it. 'So that's why I'm also late with you guys, and I'm sorry for that. But I don't think it's going to be an issue for me to recover. I mean, three hours was a lot of running, straight sets, but a three-hour match is a good three-hour session. 'Good thing about slams obviously you have a day in between. So plenty of time to recover and get ready for the next one.'
