Novak Djokovic has announced that he will no longer participate in on-court interviews at the Australian Open until he receives a formal apology from the host broadcaster Channel 9.
The world-renowned tennis star voiced his frustration after a segment aired by Channel 9 that he says mocked Serbian fans and made offensive remarks about him.
The Incident with Channel 9’s Tony Jones
The controversy began during a broadcast on Saturday, where Channel 9 host Tony Jones appeared in front of a group of Djokovic’s supporters at Melbourne Park.
Jones enthusiastically acknowledged the crowd, commenting on their chants: “Welcome back to Melbourne Park, where you can see the Novak Djokovic fans, they’re in full voice.”
However, things took a turn when Jones mockingly sang along with the chants, adding, “Novak, he’s overrated,” and “Novak, kick him out,” before brushing it off by saying, “Boy, I’m glad they can’t hear me.”
The comments were not taken lightly by Djokovic, who felt that the broadcaster’s actions were disrespectful to him and his supporters.
Djokovic’s Response After Victory
Following Djokovic’s straight-sets victory over Jiri Lehecka on Sunday, he was approached by Jim Courier for the customary on-court interview.
Djokovic, however, chose not to engage in the usual post-match conversation.
Instead, he simply thanked the crowd for their support, before walking off to sign autographs for fans.
A Statement to the Press
Later, during his post-match press conference, Djokovic addressed the situation, explaining the reasons behind his boycott.
“A couple of days ago, the famous sports journalist Tony Jones, who works for Channel 9, made a mockery of Serbian fans and also made insulting and offensive comments towards me,” Djokovic said.
He went on to explain that since no apology was issued by Jones or Channel 9, he had decided to refuse further interviews with the network.
“I have nothing against Jim Courier or the Australian public,” Djokovic clarified.
“It was a very awkward situation for me to face on the court today. It’s unfortunate.”
Will Djokovic’s Boycott Continue?
When asked if his boycott would persist until he receives an apology from Channel 9, Djokovic confirmed that it would.
“Yes, exactly,” he replied, making it clear that he was standing firm on his decision until the matter is addressed appropriately.
As the situation develops, Djokovic leaves it up to Channel 9 to handle the matter in the way they see fit.
The tension between the tennis star and the broadcaster remains unresolved, and the eyes of the sporting world are now focused on whether any formal apology will be issued.
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