Novak Djokovic opted out of an on-court interview at the Australian Open amid a controversy with Channel 9, following comments by anchor Tony Jones that mocked Djokovic’s supporters on live television.
Despite his victory over Jiri Lehecka, which advanced him to the quarterfinals, Djokovic explained his decision during a post-match press conference, highlighting that neither Jones nor Channel 9 had issued an apology.
The incident occurred when Jones, who had previously faced criticism for calling player Danielle Collins a “brat,” ridiculed Serbian fans cheering for Djokovic during a live broadcast. This mockery prompted Djokovic to skip the customary on-court interview after his match, which led to some booing from the audience at Rod Laver Arena.
Djokovic stated, “A couple of days ago, a well-known sports journalist from the official broadcaster here in Australia made insulting comments about Serbian fans and me. Since then, no apology has been made. Therefore, as they are the official broadcasters, I chose not to give interviews for Channel 9.”
He emphasized that his decision was not against interviewer Jim Courier or the Australian public but rather a response to the broadcaster’s failure to acknowledge the offensive remarks. Djokovic described the situation as awkward and inappropriate for a detailed explanation in front of the crowd.
Djokovic also mentioned that he had discussed the issue with Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley, expressing his stance and the reasons behind his actions. He conveyed his willingness to accept any potential fines for skipping the on-court interview, underscoring that addressing the issue was necessary.
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Currently, Channel 9 has not responded to Djokovic’s recent statements.
