Australian broadcaster Tony Jones has apologised to Novak Djokovic and Serbian tennis fans for comments he made on TV on Friday night that the 37-year-old considered “insulting and offensive”.
Djokovic declined to do the customary on-court interview after his fourth-round victory over Jiri Lehecka on Sunday pending a public apology from Jones and Australian broadcast rights holders Channel 9.
The 10-time Australian Open champion revealed in his post-match press conference that his ire was not directed at the crowd but at the broadcaster following an incident ahead of his third-round match when presenter Jones mocked a group of chanting Djokovic fans behind him that had gathered outside the broadcast booth at Melbourne Park on Friday, by singing, “Novak is overrated, Novak’s a has-been, Novak kick him out”.
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Novak Djokovic explained he will boycott on-court interviews at the Australian Open until he receives an apology from the Australian TV broadcaster Channel 9
In an interview on the channel on Monday, Jones said he thought the comments had been “banter” and he had immediately made a private apology to the “Djokovic camp” once he realised they had not been taken in humour.
“I can stand by that apology to Novak,” he said. “I should also say the disrespect was extended, in many ways, to the Serbian fans.
“We have built up a nice rapport with the Serbian fans, and there was banter, and I thought what I was doing was an extension of that banter. Quite clearly that has not been interpreted that way.
“I feel as though I’ve let down the Serbian fans.” Jones said the one comment he particularly regretted was “kick him out”, which he accepted could only be construed as a reference to Djokovic’s deportation from Australia in a row over his Covid vaccination status in early 2022.
“That has angered Novak which I completely understand now,” Jones said.
“It has been an unfortunate situation, it has been one of personal angst for Novak, it’s quite clearly personal angst for me as well.”
There was no immediate response to a request for comment from seventh seed Djokovic, who plays Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals on Tuesday.
On Sunday, Djokovic said he had not received a public apology from the broadcaster and would continue boycotting them until he does.
Djokovic later posted a message on social media reiterating why he declined to speak.
“A couple of days ago the famous sports journalist who works for the official broadcaster, Channel 9 here in Australia, made a mockery of Serbian fans and also made insulting and offensive comments towards me,” said Djokovic.
“And, since then, he chose not to issue any public apology. Neither did Channel 9. So, since they’re official broadcasters, I chose not to give interviews for Channel 9.
“I have nothing against Jim Courier or neither the Australian public. It was a very awkward situation for me to face on the court today. It’s unfortunate. I chose to say something to the crowd, but obviously wasn’t the time and space or situation for me to explain what I’m doing right now.
“I leave it to Channel 9 to handle this the way they think they see fit.”
Former Wimbledon finalist Pat Rafter believes the row could play in the Serbian’s favour, saying: “I think Novak’s in a pretty good head space, he’s nice and angry. He plays his best tennis when he’s angry.”
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