Novak Djokovic responds to Channel 9 presenter’s ‘hollow’ apology as the broadcaster cops huge backlash for ‘insulting’ comments
Novak Djokovic has ‘acknowledged’ a public apology issued to him today by Channel 9 presenter Tony Jones.
The broadcaster had been blasted by some, including Nick Kyrgios, after the veteran newsreader offered an apology on the Today Show this morning, having also issued a statement to a Balkan TV and website, SportKlub, last week.
It came after the 63-year-old had claimed that Djokovic, who is gunning for his 11th Australian Open title this week in Melbourne, had branded the 24-time Grand Slam winner a ‘has-been’.
On Sunday night, Djokovic advanced to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open for the 15th time in his distinguished career, beating Jiri Lehecka to set up a mouthwatering tie against Carlos Alcaraz.
But after the match at the Rod Laver Arena, he stayed only briefly to conduct his post-match interview in protest against the Channel 9 presenter’s comments.
It was initially believed he was upset by some members of the crowd, but the tennis great revealed it was in protest of Jones’ behaviour.
Novak Djokovic has issued a response to Channel 9 broadcaster Tony Jones’ public apology on Monday
During this morning’s Today Show, Jones issued a statement in which he said he was apologetic for comments he made on a live broadcast last week
The Channel 9 broadcaster had said that Djokovic was a ‘has-been’ with Djokovic claiming that the comments had insulted him
On Monday, Jones issued a statement on the Today Show, in which he claimed he had reached out to Djokovic’s team to apologise nearly 48 hours ago while stating he was sorry for any offence that was caused by his comments.
In a statement released to Mail Sport by Tennis Australia, it is understood that Djokovic now wants to move on from the saga that has engulfed the tournament in recent days, having accepted the broadcaster’s apology.
‘Novak acknowledges the apology has been given in public as requested, and is now moving on and focusing on his next match,’ Tennis Australia wrote in a statement.
Djokovic said he would refuse any interviews with the tournament’s host broadcaster Channel Nine until he received an apology.
The veteran newsreader was doing a live broadcast from Melbourne Park on Friday night when a large group of Djokovic fans holding Serbian flags began cheering in the background behind him.
Jones sledged the fans, singing to them: ‘Novak, he’s overrated … Novak’s a has-been. Novak, kick him out.’
While the comments were supposed to be a joke, he was widely slammed on social media.
Jones offered his public apology on Monday morning after saying he was surprised the episode had reached such a point.
Djokovic threatened to boycot on-court interviews unless he received a public apology from Jones
The broadcaster claimed that he had reached out to Djokovic’s team after learning they had taken offence to his comments
‘The comments were made on the news on the Friday night, which I considered to be banter,’ Jones said on the Today Show.
‘I considered it to be humour, which is consistent with most things I do, whether it be the Sunday Footy Show or whether it be the Morning Show here.
‘Having said that, 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. So this is 48 hours ago.
‘For any disrespect that Novak felt that I’d caused, and as I stand here now, I stand by that apology to Novak if he felt any disrespect, which quite clearly he does.’
Djokovic made a statement before the start of Sunday night’s press conference to explain his boycott.
‘A couple of days ago, a famous sports journalist who works for official broadcaster Channel Nine here in Australia made a mockery of Serbian fans and also made insulting and offensive comments towards me,’ he said.
‘Since then, he chose not to issue any public apology, neither did Channel Nine, so since they are official broadcasters, I chose not to give interviews for Channel Nine.
‘I have nothing against Jim Courier, neither the Australian public.
‘It was a very awkward situation for me to face on the court today and it’s unfortunate.
Respected tennis reporter Ben Rothenberg took issue with one phrase in the apology Jones made to Djokovic on Monday morning
Nick Kyrgios has also hit out at the Channel 9 broadcaster on his social media channels after Jones had issued his apology
‘So I leave it to Channel Nine to handle this the way they think they see fit.’
Jones, speaking after the incident made headlines around the world overnight, also apologised to Serbian fans while claiming he’d built a good rapport with them over the years.
‘They come here with the flags and they provide so much colour and so much passion, and there was banter so I thought what I was doing was an extension of that banter,’ he said.
‘Quite clearly that hasn’t been interpreted that way, so I do feel as though I’ve let down the Serbian fans.
‘I’m just saying and not to try and wriggle out of trouble or anything, I genuinely feel for those fans.’
Jones said his biggest regret and where he ‘overstepped the mark’ was singing ‘kick him out’.
‘Now I can stand here and put whatever spin I want in that, but it can only be interpreted as a throwback to the COVID years when he was kicked out (of Australia for not having a visa),’ he added.
‘Now that has angered Novak, which I completely understand now.’
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he’d seen Jones’ mocking remarks about Djokovic.
On Sunday, Djokovic arrived at his press conference with a pre-prepared statement in which he claimed that Jones had ‘offended him’
The Serbian booked his place in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open for the 15th time in his career on Sunday and will face off against Carlos Alcaraz in a mouthwatering clash
‘We need more kindness and generosity and respect. Just across the board. I think that’s what people are looking for,’ he told ABC radio.
The saga prompted widespread backlash on social media.
Kyrgios, who had partnered with Djokovic for the men’s doubles at the Brisbane International three weeks ago, was critical of Jones’ apology. It’s the second time the Aussie star has had a crack at the broadcaster, calling Jones a ‘clown’ earlier in the week.
‘How the f*** does this guy still have a f***ing job? It is putrid stuff. Tony Jones, you absolute flop. F***ing Chompers, mate,’ Kyrgios wrote on Facebook on Monday.
‘Chompers’ is a nickname Jones got saddled with after having work done on his teeth more than 10 years ago and he’s known to hate the moniker.
‘The audacity to call Novak Djokovic overrated by a reporter is just insane. The guy literally completed tennis by winning everything you can in our sport!’ dual Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka posted on X.
Jones was also a target for American player Danielle Collins last week after he labelled her a ‘brat’ for her post-match reaction when she defeated Australian Destanee Aiava.
One part of Jones’s statement was slammed by tennis journalist Ben Rothenburg, who wrote on X: ‘Tony Jones has “apologized” but it’s one of those hollow apologies where he apologizes for how it made someone feel, not what he did, and he makes clear that he disagrees with the feelings. “I do apologize” shouldn’t become “I do apologize if”.’
