Australian sports presenter Tony Jones recently found himself at the center of controversy after making remarks about tennis superstar Novak Djokovic during a live broadcast at the Australian Open. On air, Jones addressed a gathering of Djokovic fans with the words, "Novak, he's overrated, Novak's a has-been, Novak, kick him out." The comments, intended as lighthearted banter, did not sit well with the Djokovic camp, prompting them to reach out to Jones for a formal apology.
Jones publicly apologized to Djokovic and his fans on Channel 9's Today program. The Nine Network also released a statement clarifying that no harm was intended towards Djokovic or his supporters. The incident unfolded after Djokovic opted out of an on-court interview following his fourth-round victory against Jiří Lehečka, choosing instead to briefly thank the crowd and sign merchandise for fans. Despite the tension, Djokovic acknowledged the apology and expressed his desire to move forward and concentrate on his upcoming matches.
Tony Jones attempted to justify his comments by explaining that they were meant to be humorous. He said, "The comments were made on the news on the Friday night, which I considered to be banter, I considered it to be humor, which is consistent with most things I do, whether it be the Sunday Footy Show, whether it be the morning show here." Nonetheless, the remarks did not resonate as intended.
The previous year, Djokovic's unvaccinated status against Covid-19 resulted in his forced departure from Australia. This past incident is believed to have influenced Jones' comments. Djokovic, who is vying for his 25th grand slam singles title at the Australian Open, will face Carlos Alcaraz in a highly anticipated quarterfinal match.
Djokovic described the situation as awkward and offensive. "A few days ago, a famous sports journalist here from Australia who works for a main broadcaster of the Australian Open, Channel 9, decided to mock Serbian fans and he made insulting and offensive comments towards me," he said. The unfortunate exchange has been a source of personal distress for both parties involved.
Jones expressed regret over the incident, acknowledging its impact on Djokovic and himself. "It has been an unfortunate situation. It’s been one of personal angst for Novak, it’s quite clearly personal angst for me as well, but I just think the priority here now is to focus on the tennis again," he stated.
The Nine Network spokesperson reiterated that the comments were not meant to cause any offense and expressed enthusiasm for continuing to highlight Djokovic's performance at Melbourne Park. "No harm was intended towards Novak or his fans," the spokesperson said. "We look forward to further showcasing his Australian Open campaign at Melbourne Park."
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