Australian broadcaster apologises to Djokovic

An Australian broadcaster has apologised to Novak Djokovic for comments helium made connected TV that the 24-time Grand Slam champion considered "insulting and offensive".

Channel Nine's Tony Jones shouted "Novak, he's overrated, Novak's a has-been, Novak footwear him out" towards Djokovic fans portion unrecorded connected aerial astatine the Australian Open connected Friday.

As a result, Djokovic refused to bash his accustomed on-court interrogation aft Sunday's fourth-round triumph implicit Jiri Lehecka due to the fact that of Channel Nine being authoritative broadcasters of the tournament.

Speaking astatine a quality league afterwards, Djokovic said Jones had "made a mockery of Serbian fans and besides made insulting and violative comments towards me".

The 37-year-old added that it "was a precise awkward concern for me".

Jones said connected Channel Nine connected Monday: "I'm disappointed it travel to this due to the fact that the comments were made connected the quality connected the Friday nighttime which I considered to beryllium banter and humour - which is accordant with what I do.

"However, I was made alert connected the Saturday greeting from Tennis Australia, via the Djokovic camp, that the Djokovic campy was not blessed astatine each with those comments.

"I instantly contacted the Djokovic campy and issued an apology to them – 48 hours agone – for immoderate disrespect which Novak felt I had caused.

"As I basal present present I basal by that apology to Novak if helium feels immoderate disrespect, which helium intelligibly does.

"The disrespect extends to the Serbian fans – implicit the years present determination has been colour with them and passionateness and banter, and I thought that was an hold of that banter. Quite intelligibly that hasn't been interpreted that way.

"I bash consciousness I've fto down the Serbian fans. I'm not conscionable saying that to wriggle retired of trouble. I genuinely consciousness for those fans."

Djokovic, a 10-time champion astatine Melbourne Park, plays Carlos Alcaraz successful the quarter-finals connected Tuesday.

Channel Nine besides apologised, saying "no harm was intended towards Novak oregon his fans".

The Serbian Council of Australia has called for Jones to beryllium sacked, saying his comments were "offensive, racist and lone service to incite further favoritism of Australian-Serbs".

Jones said helium peculiarly felt helium had "overstepped the mark" with his "kick him out" remark - which helium accepted could beryllium interpreted arsenic a notation to Djokovic's 2022 deportation from Australia due to the fact that of the country's Covid-19 regulations.

"That has angered Novak – I wholly recognize that," said Jones.

"It has been an unfortunate concern and 1 of idiosyncratic angst for Novak and idiosyncratic angst for maine arsenic well. The precedence present is to absorption connected the tennis. He has an astonishing lucifer and I anticipation helium tin absorption connected that.

"I tin lone again archer Novak what I told him 48 hours agone which is I bash apologise if helium feels I disrespected him.

"I agreed to conscionable him successful person, they came backmost and yes, that hasn't transpired yet but I anticipation it volition hap successful the adjacent 24 hours."

Tennis Australia said: "Novak acknowledges the apology has been fixed successful nationalist arsenic requested and is present moving connected and focusing connected his adjacent match."