Channel Nine’s Tony Jones apologizes to Novak Djokovic over ‘banter’ that led to coverage boycott | Australian Open 2025

Tony Jones has issued an apology to Novak Djokovic after comments the veteran made at the Australian Open led to the Serbian tennis star boycotting Channel Nine’s coverage of the tournament.

Djokovic opted not to give a customary on-court interview after beating Jiri Lehecka on Sunday to enter this year’s quarter-finals, before revealing he would not speak to the host station until he received an apology.

Jones, according to the 10-time Australian Open champion, “made a mockery of Serbian fans and also made insulting and offensive comments to me” during an episode of the Friday night news show.

The 63-year-old said on Monday that he had contacted Djokovic and his camp on Saturday to apologize for making the comments, which he considered “teasing”.

“I took it as humour, which is in line with most things I do,” Jones said before play started at Melbourne Park on day nine of the year’s first grand slam. “Having said that, it was brought to my attention on Saturday morning from Tennis Australia via the Djokovic camp that the Djokovic camp was not at all happy with these 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 apologize if he felt I disrespected him.”

Jones caused an outcry when he sledged a group of animated Serbian supporters in a live broadcast and chanted back at them: “Novak, he’s overrated. Novak has been. Novak, throw him out.”

He acknowledged the impact his comments had on Serbian fans and said he “overstepped the mark” with the last remark.

“Now I can stand here and put whatever spin I want on it, but it can only be interpreted as a throwback to the Covid years when he was kicked out (by Australia),” he said. “Now that it has angered Novak, which I completely understand now.

“They (the Serbian fans) come here with the flags and they bring so much color and so much passion and there was banter so I thought what I did was an extension of that banter. Obviously it hasn’t been interpreted like that. So I feel like I’ve let the Serbian fans down.”

Jones said he had offered to meet with the Djokovic camp to discuss the incident and expected to do so within the next 24 hours.

Channel Nine also issued an apology on Monday.

“Nine would like to apologize to Novak Djokovic for any offense caused by comments from a recent live cross. No harm was intended to Novak or his fans. We look forward to further showcasing his Australian Open campaign at Melbourne Park.”

The issue threatens to overshadow Djokovic’s pursuit of an 11th Australian Open title, with video of the broadcast quickly going viral.

A formal complaint has been lodged with the Human Rights Commission by the Serbian Council of Australia, which also called for Jones to be withdrawn in a statement released on Monday.

Tennis great Boris Becker called Jones’ behavior “very disturbing”, while two-time Australian Open champion Viktoria Azarenka said: “The audacity to call Novak Djokovic overrated by a reporter is just insane. The guy literally perfected tennis by winning everything , what you can do in our sport!

Asked to weigh in on the controversy on Monday, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called for more respect.

“I’ll let it go through to the keeper, it’s a matter between them,” Albanese said. “But I think Novak Djokovic is definitely a good tennis player, there’s no doubt about that, and I think there’s room for more respect.

“I’ve seen the comments from the broadcaster … We need more kindness and generosity and respect across the board. I think that’s what people are looking for.”

Tennis Australia said Djokovic “recognizes that the apology has been made publicly as requested and is now moving on”, while Jones said he hoped the focus could now shift back to tennis, where the Serb will next face third seed Carlos Alcaraz in action in the tournament so far on Tuesday night.