MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) 鈥� The host broadcaster has apologized after declined to do a customary post-match on court interview at the Sunday to protest comments made on air by someone who works for the TV network.
Djokovic said he wanted an apology from Channel 9 and Tony Jones, who called the 24-time Grand Slam champion overrated and a has-been, as well as an apparent reference to his deportation from Australia in 2022 for being unvaccinated for COVID-19, during an on-air appearance at Melbourne Park where a crowd of the player's supporters were chanting.
Djokovic, a 37-year-old from Serbia, did not name Jones, but said a "famous sports journalist who works for official broadcaster, Channel 9 ... made a mockery of Serbian fans and also made insulting and offensive comments toward me.鈥�
Djokovic said he would continue to avoid speaking to the network.
鈥淚 leave it to Channel 9 to handle this the way they think they see fit. That鈥檚 all,鈥� Djokovic said.
Australia's Nine Network issued a statement Monday and apologized to Djokovic 鈥渇or any offense caused from comments made during a recent live cross.鈥�
鈥淣o harm was intended towards Novak or his fans,鈥� the statement said. 鈥淲e look forward to further showcasing his Australian Open campaign at Melbourne Park.鈥�
Jones appeared on the Today program Monday to apologize, and said he meant the comments as 鈥渂anter.鈥�
鈥淚 considered it to be humor, which is consistent with most things I do,鈥� he said. 鈥淗aving said that, I was made aware ... that the Djokovic camp was not happy at all with those comments.
鈥淚 immediately contacted the Djokovic camp and issued an apology to them. And as I stand here now, I stand by that apology to Novak.鈥�
Jones also apologized to any Serbian fans who didn鈥檛 interpret his comments as humorous.
鈥淚 do feel as though I鈥檝e let down the Serbian fans,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 not just saying this to try and wriggle out of trouble or anything. I genuinely feel for those fans.鈥�
鈥淪o, I can only again tell Novak what I told him 48 hours ago. And that is I do apologize if he felt that I disrespected him.鈥�
Serbia's Ambassador to Australia, Rade Stefanovic on Monday said Jones鈥� comments were 鈥渃learly unprofessional鈥� and could not be considered in good humor, particularly the 鈥渕ost concerning鈥� inference regarding on the eve of the tournament three years ago.
鈥淭hat event is still very much present in the minds of the Serbian people worldwide, including Australians of Serbian origin, who were also collectively victimized at the time,鈥� the Sydney Morning Herald 鈥� which is also owned by the same parent company as Channel 9 鈥� quoted Stefanovic as saying on Monday.
After beating Jiri Lehecka in three sets at Rod Laver Arena on Sunday to reach the quarterfinals, Djokovic was expected to speak to former player Jim Courier on television. Instead, Djokovic held the microphone and told the crowd: 鈥淭hank you very much for being here tonight. I appreciate your presence and the support. I鈥檒l see you next round. Thank you very much.鈥�
Later, at his news conference, Djokovic began with a statement, telling reporters why he didn鈥檛 do the interview and clarifying he was upset by Jones and the broadcaster, not Courier or the fans in the stadium.
He said that he also spoke to Craig Tiley, the CEO of Tennis Australia, about the issue.
鈥淚 just wanted to make sure that he knows where I stand and the reasons behind it,鈥� Djokovic said. 鈥淪o I told him: 鈥業f you guys want to fine me for not giving an on-court interview, that鈥檚 OK.鈥� I鈥檒l accept that 鈥檆ause I feel like this is something that needs to be done. That鈥檚 all there is to it.鈥�
Djokovic later posted a message on X reiterating why he declined to speak. That triggered , who said 鈥淚t鈥檚 way better just to talk to the public directly than go through the negativity filter of legacy media.鈥�
with 鈥淚ndeed鈥� followed by a raised hands emoji.
in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.
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AP Sports Writer John Pye contributed from Brisbane, Australia.
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AP tennis:
Howard Fendrich, The Associated Press
