- Djokovic was not happy with his comments
- Channel Nine media commitments boycotted
- Veteran sportscaster apologizes
Veteran Channel Nine sports presenter Tony Jones has apologized to Novak Djokovic after the Serbian tennis star took offense to comments made to his fans at the Australian Open.
Djokovic had vowed to boycott Channel Nine interviews at the Australian Open until he received an apology for comments made by sports presenter Tony Jones, which he found offensive.
During a broadcast, Jones made comments about Djokovic and his Serbian fans, including the phrase “throw him out,” which many interpreted as a reference to Djokovic’s deportation from Australia in 2021.
‘Novak is overrated. Novak is a past. Novak, throw him out… Wow, I’m glad they can’t hear me,’ he said.
Djokovic called the comments disrespectful and reiterated his stance at a news conference after advancing to the tournament’s quarterfinals.
Jones apologized on Channel Nine on Monday and said he had already apologized to Djokovic and his fans two days earlier.
The veteran Channel Nine sports presenter angered tennis champion Novak Djokovic with comments he made to his fans at the Australian Open.
Djokovic launched a boycott of Channel Nine’s media engagements and demanded a public apology from Jones
‘I thought of it as humor, which is consistent with most of the things I do. You know, whether it’s the Sunday Footy Show or the Morning Show here,” he said.
“That said, on Saturday morning from Tennis Australia via the Djokovic camp I was informed that the Djokovic camp was not at all happy with those comments.
‘Now. As such, I immediately contacted Djokovic’s camp and apologized to them. So this was 48 hours ago for whatever disrespect Novak felt I had caused.
“And as I am here now, I stand by that apology to Novak. If he felt any disrespect, which he clearly does now, I must also say that the disrespect extended, I suppose in many ways, to the Serbian fans.
“Now, as you know, being here for these seven years, we have established a good relationship with the Serbian fans. They come here with the flags and they bring so much color and so much passion and there were jokes, so I thought what I was doing was an extension of those jokes.
It is clear that this has not been interpreted that way. So I feel like I’ve let down the Serbian fans.
‘Now, I’m not saying this just to try to get out of trouble or something. I really feel for those fans. If you could turn back time, right?
Today Show host Karl Stefanovic said Djokovic had every right to apologize, adding that he hoped all parties could move on and focus on tennis.
Jones apologized on air for his comments and said he also apologized two days earlier.
‘Novak Djokovic is a sports legend. It’s very patriotic. He takes things personally, and that is his right. Yes. And TJ’s apology is sincere,” he said.
“I think Novak is a very good guy. I’ve seen him a couple of times, interviewed him several times and I’m sure that in the hours ahead and the games ahead of us, he’ll be fine.
“But, you know, I hope that’s, you know, the opportunity for us to focus on tennis.”
But some tennis fans are calling on Channel Nine to take tougher action, despite the apology.
‘An apology is too little, too late. “Tony Jones needs to be fired without apologies,” one posted on social media platform X.
“Channel Nine will have to apologize or fire Jones,” another added.