Under-fire Channel 9 presenter Tony Jones publicly apologized to Novak Djokovic following controversial remarks about the Serbian tennis star at the Australian Open. The 37-year-old, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, had accused Jones of mocking him and Serbian fans after his fourth-round victory over Jiri Lehecka.
The situation escalated when Djokovic refused to participate in on-court interviews, demanding an apology before engaging with the broadcaster. The controversy led to Channel 9 issuing an official statement expressing regret for any offense caused, while Jones admitted that he “overstepped the mark” in his comments.
Djokovic’s Decision to Boycott Channel 9 Coverage
Tony Jones initially dismissed his remarks as mere “banter” during a live segment, where he chanted phrases such as “Novak, he’s overrated! Novak’s a has-been! Novak, kick him out!” while standing behind Serbian fans at Melbourne Park. However, Djokovic and his supporters found the comments offensive, recalling past disrespect toward the Serbian star, including his deportation from Australia in 2022.
Upon being informed by Tennis Australia that Djokovic’s camp was deeply unhappy with his remarks, Jones reached out to offer an apology. “I considered it to be humor, which is consistent with most things I do,” Jones stated. “Having said that, I was made aware on Saturday morning from Tennis Australia that the 24-time Grand Slam champion 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 apologize if he felt that I disrespected him.”
Jones further acknowledged his comments’ unintended impact on Serbian fans, admitting that he “overstepped the mark” and had not considered how his words could be interpreted as a reference to Djokovic’s past deportation. “Now that that has angered Novak, which I completely understand now, I do feel as though I’ve let down the Serbian fans. They come here with the flags, they provide so much color and passion, and I thought what I was doing was an extension of that banter. Quite clearly, that hasn’t been interpreted that way.”
Djokovic’s Pursuit of History in 2025
While the controversy threatened to overshadow Djokovic’s 11th Australian Open title campaign, the Serbian star remained focused on his pursuit of history. He acknowledged the public apology from Jones and Channel 9, stating that he was ready to move on and return his focus to tennis.
Despite the drama, Novak Djokovic remained determined, setting up a highly anticipated quarterfinal clash with third seed Carlos Alcaraz. The match has been billed as one of the most significant encounters of the tournament, with the Serbian eager to prove once again why he is regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images
