Novak Djokovic has “accepted” an apology from Channel 9 sports journalist Tony Jones, who sparked controversy in Australia with comments he claimed were made in jest about the tennis star.
Jones, 63, hit the headlines after he tried to tease Serbian fans chanting behind him during a live broadcast. Mocking the fans, the Australian broadcaster mimicked their chant and joked that they were chanting: “Novak, he’s overrated, Novak is an ex, Novak kick him out!”
The sports journalist’s comments – including a reference to Djokovic being banned from Australia in 2022 because of his vaccine status – drew immediate condemnation online and led to Djokovic skipping an on-court interview after winning his match at the Australian Open on Sunday, January 19.
“He made insulting and insulting comments towards me,” Djokovic said at the time in a video he posted on X, a few moments after skipping the interview.
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Novak Djokovic.
Bradley Kanaris/Getty
The latest off-court saga surrounding Djokovic has led to stories around the sports world chastising Jones for the comments, with some calling for his resignation, according to Channel 9’s report on the broadcaster’s own controversy.
Jones’ remarks even drew a reaction from Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. “I think there is a place for more respect,” the prime minister said in a radio interview published on his official website, calling for more “courtesy” in sport.
Jones, who was all smiles during a chat with fans on Friday, January 17, reiterated that his comments were meant to be “teasing” and humorous in an apology shared via Channel 9.
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“However, on Saturday morning I was informed by Tennis Australia, through Djokovic’s camp, that Djokovic’s camp was not at all happy with those comments,” Jones said, according to the BBC. “I immediately contacted Djokovic’s camp and apologized to them – 48 hours ago – for any disrespect that Novak felt I caused. As I stand here now, I stand by that apology to Novak if he feels any disrespect, which he clearly does.”
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Novak Djokovic.
Bradley Kanaris/Getty
The spat ended with Jones apologizing privately and publicly in an interview with Channel 9. Djokovic eventually said he “accepted” Jones’ apology via a statement shared by Australian Open organizers.
“I can just say to Novak again what I said to him 48 hours ago, that I apologize if he felt that I disrespected him,” Jones told Channel 9 in a report about him. “We have built a nice relationship with the Serbian fans and what I thought I was doing was an extension of that joke, but it is quite clear that it was not interpreted that way. So, I feel like I let the Serbian fans down.”
On Tuesday, January 21, Djokovic will play against Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, seeking his 11th title at the major tournament in Melbourne.
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