Why does Novak Djokovic want apology at Australian Open? All you need to know about Tony Jones’ controversial comments & Serb’s reaction
Novak Djokovic finds himself at the center of another Australian Open controversy, this time involving the tournament’s host broadcaster, Channel 9. The situation escalated after Djokovic refused to participate in a post-match interview following his fourth-round victory over Jiri Lehecka on Sunday.
Fans and viewers were left stunned when, after his straight-sets win, Djokovic delivered only a brief message before abruptly leaving the arena without the traditional interview. Both the stadium commentators and interviewer Jim Courier were caught off guard by the 24-time Grand Slam champion’s actions.
Later, during his press conference, Djokovic explained his decision, revealing that Australian broadcaster Tony Jones was at the root of the issue.
What did Tony Jones say about Novak Djokovic?
Earlier in the tournament, Nine Network’s Tony Jones made controversial remarks about Djokovic during a broadcast, referring to him as a “has-been” and making light of the Serbian fans’ support.
“Back to Melbourne Park, where you can see the Novak Djokovic fans there in full voice. The chants are quite extraordinary. Novak, he’s overrated! Novak’s a has-been! Novak, kick him out! Boy, I’m glad they can’t hear me,” Jones said.
These comments sparked a backlash from Djokovic’s supporters and the tennis community, with former Australian Open tournament director Paul McNamee and player Nick Kyrgios openly criticizing Jones.
Novak Djokovic’s response
During his press conference, Djokovic expressed his disapproval of Jones’ comments, particularly the mockery made of his fans. He called for a public apology from the broadcaster, stating that the remarks were both “insulting and offensive.”
“A couple of days ago, a famous sports journalist who works for official broadcaster Channel 9 in Australia made a mockery of Serbian fans and also made insulting and offensive comments towards me, and since then, he has chosen not to issue any public apology,” Djokovic said.
Despite the controversy, Djokovic made it clear that he had no issue with Jim Courier or the Australian public. “I have nothing against Jim Courier or the Australian public. It was an awkward situation for me on court today, and unfortunately, I couldn’t explain everything to the crowd in that moment,” he added.
As for his next match, Djokovic will face Carlos Alcaraz in a highly anticipated quarterfinal clash on Tuesday.
