Channel 9 host Tony Jones has issued an apology after Novak Djokovic snubbed an on-court interview with sports journalist Jim Courier following his straight-set victory over Jiri Lehecka at the Australian Open on Sunday night.
The incident, which stunned fans and commentators alike, came after a controversial segment from Jones two days earlier, sparking a media storm that has since captivated the tennis world.
During his victory speech on Sunday, Djokovic chose not to take part in the traditional on-court interview, instead addressing the crowd directly with a brief statement.
“Thank you very much for being here tonight. I appreciate your support. See you next round,” he said before handing the microphone back to Courier and walking off.
@the.back.cover Tony Jones issues an apology after Novak Djokovic snubs an on-court interview at the Australian Open! 🎤🇦🇺 Djokovic’s boycott comes in response to controversial comments made by Jones. Presented by Mibenge Nsenduluka. Watch to find out more #BackCoverNews #thebackcover #NovakDjokovic #AustralianOpen #TonyJones #Channel9 #TennisDrama #BreakingNews #SportNews #AustralianSports #fyp #fypage #tiktok #tiktokserbia #tiktokindia #australianopen #tennis #tennistiktok
The moment left Courier visibly stunned, with immediate speculation suggesting that Djokovic was unhappy with the crowd’s behaviour throughout the match. However, the Serbian star later revealed that his decision was, in fact, a protest against Jones.
Djokovic explained in his official press conference and on X that his boycott was in response to Jones’ comments made during a segment on Friday night.
The remarks, which were directed at Djokovic’s Serbian supporters, quickly went viral and ignited a wave of backlash from fans.
“A couple of days ago, the famous sports journalist who works for official broadcaster Channel 9 here in Australia, made a mockery of Serbian fans and also made insulting and offensive comments towards me,” Djokovic said.
“And since then, he chose not to issue any public apology. Neither did Channel 9. So since they’re official broadcasters, I chose not to give interviews for Channel 9. I have nothing against Jim Courier or neither the Australian public. It was a very awkward situation for me to face on the court today.”
The comments Djokovic was referring to were made by Jones on Friday during a segment where he turned to a group of Djokovic supporters waving Serbian flags.
“Novak’s overrated. Novak’s a has-been. Novak, kick him out…Boy, I’m glad they can’t hear me,” Jones laughed.
The remarks were widely condemned by Djokovic’s fans, who labelled them “unprofessional” and “disrespectful.” The comment about Djokovic being “kicked out” was particularly controversial, as it was seen as a reference to Djokovic’s deportation from Australia in 2021, which the 24-time Grand Slam champion has previously described as one of the worst experiences of his life.
After the incident, Djokovic revealed that he would continue to boycott Channel 9 interviews until both Jones and the network issued an apology.
In response to the backlash, Jones issued a public apology to Serbian website Sport Klub, claiming that his comments were intended as a joke.
“Unfortunately, my ‘humour’ the other night was misinterpreted as an attack on Novak. That was certainly not the case. I’ve been joking with Serbian fans throughout the tournament and this is – at least I thought so – a continuation of that,” Jones said. “If you watch our morning show, you’ll get an idea of how we work. At no point did I mean to show any disrespect to Novak and I apologise – there was certainly no intention to offend him.”
Despite the apology, many have called for Channel 9 to take further action, with some fans and commentators demanding that Jones be reprimanded or even stood down.
The controversy highlights the complex relationship between athletes and the media, with public figures often subject to intense scrutiny and criticism. It also raises questions about the boundaries of humour in sports broadcasting and whether lines were crossed in Jones’ comments.
As the story continues to develop, all eyes remain on Channel 9 to see how they will handle the situation moving forward. Djokovic has made it clear that he expects an apology from both Jones and the network before he will resume giving interviews to Channel 9 during the remainder of the tournament.
