An Australian broadcaster, Channel Nine’s Tony Jones, apologized to Novak Djokovic after his comments during a live broadcast at the Australian Open were deemed offensive. Jones’s remarks, which included calling Djokovic “overrated” and shouting “kick him out” at fans, stirred controversy. Djokovic expressed discomfort, and Jones later acknowledged his comments could be misinterpreted. Both Jones and Channel Nine apologized, while Tennis Australia confirmed Djokovic’s focus has shifted to his upcoming quarter-final match.

Credits: WSPA

An Australian broadcaster has issued an apology to Novak Djokovic after comments he made during a live broadcast at the Australian Open were deemed “insulting and offensive” by the 24-time Grand Slam champion.

Tony Jones’ Controversial Remarks Lead Novak Djokovic to Skip On-Court Interview

The incident occurred when Channel Nine’s Tony Jones shouted comments such as, “Novak, he’s overrated, Novak’s a has-been, Novak kick him out” while live on air, addressing Djokovic fans in the stands during a match on Friday. This remark quickly stirred controversy, leading Djokovic to refuse his usual on-court interview following his fourth-round victory against Jiri Lehecka on Sunday.

Novak Djokovic Slams Tony Jones for Insulting Comments, Calls Situation ‘Awkward

In a press conference after the match, Djokovic expressed his discomfort, stating that Jones had “made a mockery of Serbian fans and made insulting and offensive comments towards me.” The 37-year-old athlete added that the situation had felt “awkward” for him.

Tony Jones Defends Comments as ‘Banter’ but Apologizes to Novak Djokovic Team

In response, Jones explained his comments during a segment on Channel Nine. He described the remarks as “banter and humour,” consistent with his usual style on air. However, he acknowledged that he had received immediate feedback from Tennis Australia and the Djokovic camp the following morning. He then reached out and apologized directly to Djokovic’s team.

“I stand by that apology if Novak felt disrespected,” said Jones. “I do feel I’ve let down the Serbian fans. I genuinely feel for those fans.”

Credits: Free Press

Jones Clarifies ‘Kick Him Out’ Comment, Acknowledges Potential Reference to Novak Djokovic Deportation

Jones emphasized that he never intended to insult anyone and believed his comments were taken as part of the spirited atmosphere around the tournament. He admitted, however, that the remark “kick him out” could have been interpreted as referencing Djokovic’s controversial deportation from Australia in 2022, a topic that clearly angered the tennis star.

“I understand why Novak was upset, and I regret how my words were interpreted,” Jones acknowledged.

Channel Nine and Jones Apologize, Serbian Council Calls Remarks ‘Offensive’ and ‘Racist

Both Channel Nine and Jones offered public apologies, with the broadcaster stating that no harm was intended toward Djokovic or his supporters. Despite this, the Serbian Council of Australia called for Jones to be dismissed, calling his remarks “offensive” and “racist,” claiming they served to incite further discrimination against Australians of Serbian descent.

Credits: Standard Business

Djokovic, who has previously won the Australian Open a record 10 times, will now focus on his quarter-final match against world number three, Carlos Alcaraz.

In a statement from Tennis Australia, they confirmed that Novak Djokovic had accepted the public apology from Tony Jones and was now fully focused on his upcoming match. “Novak appreciates the apology and is moving on,” the organization remarked, signaling the end of the dispute. As the controversy begins to fade, all parties involved are eager to refocus on the primary goal—the tournament and the sport of tennis. Jones emphasized that the key priority now is Djokovic’s performance in the next round, ensuring the attention returns to the match rather than the drama surrounding it. With the situation resolved, the hope is to let the tennis take center stage once again.