New Delhi: Veteran Australian broadcaster Tony Jones issued an apology to Novak Djokovic after his controversial comments led to the 24-time Grand Slam champion boycotting official broadcaster Channel Nine’s coverage at the ongoing Australian Open 2025. Djokovic declined customary on-court post-match interview following his victory against Jiri Lehecka in his 4th-round clash on Sunday before revealing the reason behind his surprising decision.
Explaining his decision to boycott the interview, Djokovic called out Jones over his comments mocking him and Serbian fans present in Melbourne for the Australian Open. Djokovic said he considered the comments ‘insulting and offensive’, and demanded an apology from the broadcaster. Djokovic said he wouldn’t speak to Channel Nine until he receives a public apology.
Jones sparked controversy when he mocked Djokovic and a section of Serbian fans during a live broadcast. “Novak, he’s overrated. Novak’s a has-been. Novak, kick him out,” Jones sang back to the animated group of supporters.
Issuing an apology to Djokovic over his remarks, Jones said he thought it was in ‘banter’ but reached out to the 10-time Australian Open champion’s camp after he was made aware that they were not happy with his comments. Jones insisted he apologised to Djokovic’s camp and that he stood by that apology as he felt he ‘disrespected’ the Serbian legend with his comments.
“I considered it to be humour, which is consistent with most things I do,” Jones said on Channel before the start of play at the Australian Open on Day 9 of the tournament on Monday.
“Having said that, I was made aware on Saturday morning from Tennis Australia via the Djokovic camp that the Djokovic camp was not happy at all with those comments. As such, I immediately contacted the Djokovic camp and issued an apology to them. And as I stand here now, I stand by that apology to Novak … I do apologise if he felt that I disrespected him,” he added.
Jones also admitted that he overstepped with his ‘kick him out’ remark on Djokovic which might have been interpreted by many as a throwback to the COVID-19 saga which saw the Serbian ace getting deported from Australia for not taking COVID-19 vaccine during the Australian Open 2022. The 63-year-old also apologised to the Serbian fans for his comments.
“Now I can stand here and put whatever spin I want on that, but it can only be interpreted as a throwback to the Covid years when he was kicked out [of Australia],” he said. “Now that that has angered Novak, which I completely understand now,” said Jones.
Djokovic to meet Alcaraz in blockbuster quarter-final
Djokovic set up a blockbuster quarter-final clash with Spanish 3rd seed Carlos Alcaraz after beating Lehecka in the Round of 16 on Sunday. Djokovic will be playing his 15th quarter-final at the Australian Open and will be hoping to continue his winning run against Alcaraz as he aims to lift a record 25th Grand Slam title.
Australian broadcaster Tony Jones apologised to Novak Djokovic after getting called out by the 24-time Grand Slam champion for his ‘insulting’ comments on him and the Serbian fans at the Australian Open 2025. Tennis Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
