Australian TV host apologises to Djokovic over ‘offensive, racist’ jibe

Elon Musk and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese were among the prominent television personalities who waded into the dispute at the Australian Open, and Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, apologized on air to the Serbian fans.

After defeating Jiri Lehecka to reach the quarterfinals on Sunday night in Melbourne, the 37-year-old tennis legend refused to do a routine interview on the court.

After that, he claimed it was in protest of top sports presenter and host of Channel Nine, Tony Jones, who he claimed made “insulting and offensive comments” toward Serbian and him.

Jones had labelled Djokovic a “has-been”, among other things, but said in his apology it was “banter”.

Djokovic promised to abstain from all television interviews until he received an apology.

Later, he later made a brief video on X to explain his position to fans. It has been watched more than 60 million times and caught the attention of site owner Musk.

“It’s way better just to talk to the public directly than go through the negativity filter of legacy media”, Musk posted in response, with Djokovic replying: “Indeed”.

Tennis stars like Victoria Azarenka, former world no. 1, Boris Becker, Australian Nick Kyrgios, Jannik Sinner’s coach Darren Cahill, and former world no. 1 Nick Kyrgios all expressed their support for Djokovic.

Novak Djokovic’s audacity is simply insane when a reporter labels him as overrated. The player literally won everything you can in our sport, completing tennis!

‘Banter’

“The comments were made on Friday night on the news, which I thought was banter. I considered it to be humour, which is consistent with most things I do”, Jones said on Monday.

“With that said, I was informed on Saturday morning from Tennis Australia via the Djokovic camp that those remarks were not at all acceptable.

I then immediately contacted the Djokovic camp and apologized 48 hours later for any disrespect Novak had shown them.

“As I stand right now, I can only accept that Novak apology.”

When a large crowd of Djokovic fans holding Serbian flags started cheering in the background behind him while the veteran broadcaster was watching from Melbourne Park on Friday.

Jones responded by singing to them: “Novak, he’s overrated … Novak’s a has-been. Novak, kick him out.

” I should also say the disrespect was extended, in many ways, to the Serbian fans, “he said in his apology.

There is banter, and I thought what I was doing was an extension of that banter because we have developed a good relationship with Serbian fans. That has obviously not been how it was meant to be interpreted.

“I feel like I let the Serbian fans down,” he said. It has been an unfortunate situation”.

Channel Nine also apologised, saying “no harm was intended towards Novak or his fans”.

The Serbian Council of Australia, however, announced that it had lodged a complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission in a strongly worded statement issued just before Jones’ apology.

“His comments are offensive, racist and only serve to incite further discrimination of Australian Serbs”, it said.

More “kindness and generosity” was urged by Australian Prime Minister Albanese.

“I’ve seen the comments made by Jones”, he told ABC radio. We require greater tolerance for kindness, generosity, and respect from everyone. That’s what people are looking for”.

American player Danielle Collins targeted Jones after he called her a “brat” last week after she thanked Australian Open opponents for “paying my bills” in her defeat of home hope Destanee Aiava.