Australian Broadcaster Apologizes to Novak Djokovic

Tony Jones, a broadcaster from Channel Nine News in Australia, has formally apologized to Novak Djokovic after the tennis world champion refused an on court interview.

Last night at the Australian Open in Melbourne, Djokovic refused a post-game interview with a reporter from Channel Nine news, which shocked the crowd and left one reporter baffled.

In a video posted on 𝕏 shortly after, Djokovic explained his reasons for refusing the post match interview.

“A few days ago, a famous sports journalist here from Australia who works for a main broadcaster of the Australian Open, Channel 9, decided to mock Serbian fans, and he made insulting and offensive comments towards me,” Djokovic said in a video on social media.

“I was hoping he was going to apologize in public, which he hasn’t done yet, neither did Channel 9. So that’s the only reason why I didn’t do the interview.”

Tony Jones, a sports presenter on Australia's Channel Nine, issued a formal apology today saying, “I was made aware on the Saturday morning from Tennis Australia via the Djokovic camp that the Djokovic camp was not happy at all with those comments. Now, as such, I immediately contacted the Djokovic camp and issued an apology to them … for any disrespect that Novak felt that I had caused.”

Channel Nine, which owns the exclusive broadcasting rights for the Australia Open, also issued an apology "for any offense" caused. According to Tennis Australia, Djokovic has acknowledged the apology and has moved on.

This incident was sparked on Friday, when Tony Jones taunted a group of Serbian fans during a live broadcast. "Novak, he’s overrated, Novak’s a has-been, Novak, kick him out,” he said.

Before Tony Jones issued his apology, members from the Serbian Council of Australia released a statement demanding Tony Jones to be suspended and dismissed, and an apology to the Australia-Serbian community.

While this reaction seems a bit excessive, Serbians have not forgotten Australia's treatment of Djokovic in 2022 when he was denied a visa based on his vaccination status and was unable to compete in the Australian Open. He also alleges that during this time he was served poisoned food in a hotel in Melbourne.

Djokovic's camp says Novak has moved on the from the insulting comments and is focusing on his next match against Carlos Alcaraz.

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