Australian TV host apologizes to Djokovic over ‘offensive, racist’ jibe | Tennis news

The tennis great refused an on-court interview following Tony Jones’ ‘insulting and offensive’ comments to him and Serbian fans.

A leading TV host has apologized on air to Novak Djokovic after mocking the 24-time Grand Slam winner and Serbian fans at the Australian Open, with Elon Musk and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese among those wading into the fray.

The 37-year-old tennis great refused to do a routine on-court interview after beating Jiri Lehecka to reach the quarter-finals on Sunday night in Melbourne.

Afterwards he said it was in protest against Tony Jones, a top sports presenter at host Channel Nine, whom he accused of making “insulting and offensive comments” towards him and Serbian fans.

Among other things, Jones had branded Djokovic as “has-been”, but said in his apology that it was “teasing”.

Djokovic said he would boycott interviews with the broadcaster until he received an apology.

He later released a short video on X to explain his stance to fans, which has been viewed more than 60 million times and caught the attention of the site’s owner Musk.

“It’s far better to just speak directly to the public than to go through the negativity filter of legacy media,” Musk wrote in response, with Djokovic replying: “Indeed.”

Tennis names including former world number one Boris Becker, Australian Nick Kyrgios, Jannik Sinners coach Darren Cahill and Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka all spoke in support of Djokovic.

The audacity to call Novak Djokovic overrated by a journalist is just insane. The guy literally perfected tennis by winning everything you can in our sport!

— victoria azarenka (@vika7) 19 January 2025

‘teasing’

“The comments were made on the Friday night news that I considered a lie. I considered it to be humor, which is consistent with most things I do,” Jones said Monday.

“Having said that, I was made aware on Saturday morning, from Tennis Australia via the Djokovic camp, that the Djokovic camp was not at all happy with those comments.

“As such, I immediately contacted the Djokovic camp and issued an apology to them – 48 hours ago – for any disrespect that Novak felt that I had caused.

“As I stand here now, I can only stand by that apology to Novak.”

The veteran broadcaster was live at Melbourne Park on Friday when a large group of Djokovic fans holding Serbian flags began cheering in the background behind him.

Jones responded by singing to them, “Novak, he’s overrated … Novak is a has-been. Novak, throw him out.

“I must also say that in many ways disrespect was extended to the Serbian fans,” he said in his apology.

“We’ve built a good relationship with the Serbian fans… there’s banter and I thought what I did was an extension of that banter. It obviously wasn’t interpreted that way.

“I feel like I’ve let the Serbian fans down. It’s been an unfortunate situation.”

Channel Nine also apologized, saying “no harm was intended for Novak or his fans.”

But in a strongly worded statement issued before Jones’ apology, the Serbian Council of Australia called for her to be fired and said it had lodged a complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission.

“His comments are offensive, racist and only serve to encourage further discrimination against Australian Serbs,” it said.

Australian Prime Minister Albanese called for more “kindness and generosity”.

“I have seen the comments from Jones,” he told ABC radio. “We need more kindness and generosity and respect across the board. That’s what people are looking for.”

Jones was also a target of American player Danielle Collins last week after he branded her a “brat” when she thanked the Australian Open for “paying my bills” in her defeat to home hope Destanee Aiava.