TV host apologises to Djokovic over ‘insulting feedback’ as PM, Musk wade in

The 37-year-old tennis nice refused to do a routine on-court interview after beating Jiri Lehecka to make the quarter-finals on Sunday night in Melbourne.

Afterwards he stated it was in protest at Tony Jones, a prime sports activities presenter with host broadcaster Channel 9, who he accused of “insulting and offensive feedback” in direction of him and Serbian followers.

Jones had labelled Djokovic a “has-been”, amongst different issues, however stated in his apology it was “banter”.

Djokovic stated he would boycott interviews with the TV station till he bought an apology.

He later launched a brief video on X to elucidate his stance to followers, which has been seen greater than 60 million instances and caught the eye of the location’s proprietor Musk.

“It is approach higher simply to speak to the general public straight than undergo the negativity filter of legacy media,” Musk posted in response, with Djokovic replying: “Certainly.”

Tennis names together with former world quantity Boris Becker, Australian Nick Kyrgios, Jannik Sinner’s coach Darren Cahill and Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka all spoke out in help of Djokovic.

“The feedback have been made on the information on the Friday night time, which I thought-about to be banter. I thought-about it to be humour, which is according to most issues I do,” Jones stated on Monday.

“Having stated that, I used to be made conscious on Saturday morning, from Tennis Australia through the Djokovic camp that the Djokovic camp was not completely happy in any respect with these feedback.

“As such I instantly contacted the Djokovic camp and issued and apology to them 48 hours in the past for any disrespect that Novak felt, that I had brought about.

“As I stand right here now I can solely stand by that apology to Novak.”

The veteran broadcaster was reside at Melbourne Park on Friday when a big group of Djokovic followers holding Serbian flags started cheering within the background behind him.

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

“I also needs to say the disrespect was prolonged, in some ways, to the Serbian followers,” he stated in his apology.

“We now have constructed up a pleasant rapport with the Serbian followers… there may be banter, and I assumed what I used to be doing was an extension of that banter. Fairly clearly that has not been interpreted that approach.

“I really feel as if I’ve let down the Serbian followers. It has been an unlucky scenario.”

Channel 9 additionally apologised, saying “no hurt was supposed in direction of Novak or his followers”.

However in a strongly worded assertion issued earlier than Jones’s apology, the Serbian Council of Australia known as for him to be sacked and stated it had lodged a grievance with the Australian Human Rights Fee.

“His feedback are offensive, racist and solely serve to incite additional discrimination of Australian-Serbs,” it stated.

Australian Prime Minister Albanese urged extra “kindness and generosity”.

“I’ve seen the feedback made by ,” he informed ABC radio. “We want extra kindness and generosity and respect throughout the board. That is what individuals are searching for.”

Jones was additionally a goal for American participant Danielle Collins final week after he labelled her a “brat” when she thanked Australian Open hecklers for “paying my payments” in her defeat of dwelling hope Destanee Aiava.

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