Party Still Going For Serbian Supporters

The Age

Saturday January 26, 2008

Daniella Miletic

THERE is only one conversation topic buzzing at the tables of Stephanie Boskovic's Serbian restaurant this week - and that is the tennis.

With Ana Ivanovic and Novak Djokovic having made it to the final and Jelena Jankovic getting through to the semi-finals, the excitement among Victoria's Serbian community is growing.

"Everyone's talking about the tennis, we are all very proud," Ms Boskovic says. "I think it is unbelievable that a country with so many problems in the past few years can overcome that and join together to celebrate the tennis."

Ms Boskovic is planning to host a party for Serbia's entrants in the Australian Open tonight at her Preston restaurant, Joy. "We just want to say thanks, and to show them that regardless of whether they win or not that they have come very far and in the Serbian community they have come out as winners either way."

The sports editor of the Serbian Voice newspaper, Milan Ninovic, said three Serbian players making it this far in the tournament was "big history".

"Everyone is talking about tennis for the moment, nothing else," he said. "The Serbian community is over the moon . . . Serbia is a big sport nation with very, very good natural talent in lots of different sports."

Ninovic said celebrations were being organised at sports clubs and Serbian restaurants.

Springvale White Eagles soccer club president Sveto Radovanov said the Serbian community were proud of the Serbian players. "We are so proud of our sports people and everyone Serbian is very excited and happy about it," he said.

The president of Noble Park United, Ljubo Djekic, agreed. "Some people do not understand tennis or like it, but this year everyone loves watching because Serbian players are so good."

© 2008 The Age

Back to News Index | Back to Home