24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic broke silence on his interview boycott at the Australian Open 2025 on Sunday, stating he did so as a protest against a top Aussie journalist who insulted him and Serbian fans at the year’s first Grand Slam.
The incident took place after Djokovic’s win over Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round, which pitted him against Spanish Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals. In tennis, an on-court interview is a routine, especially in all major Grand Slams.
Although he took the mic and addressed the fans but refused to talk on the match with Lehecka with celebrated presenter Jim Courier. Taking to X, Djokovic in a video clarified his stance.
“The reason why I chose not to do that is that a few days ago, a famous sports journalist from here in 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,” Djokovic said in the video.
“So I was hoping he was going to apologise in public, which he hasn’t done yet, and neither did Channel 9, so that’s the only reason why I didn’t do the interview.
“That’s the main reason and I have to stand by my decision and hold these stands until something is done. I leave it to Channel 9 and hopefully that situation will change for the next match,” he added.
Channel 9 presenter issues apology
Meanwhile, Channel 9 presenter Tony Jones issued an apology, stating it was more of a banter with the Serbian fans. “The comments were made on the news on the Friday night, which I considered to be banter.
“I considered it to be humour, which is consistent with most things I do,” Jones clarified on on Monday. “I was made aware on Saturday morning, from Tennis Australia via the Djokovic camp, that the Djokovic camp was not happy at all with those comments.
“As such I immediately contacted the Djokovic camp and issued and apology to them — 48 hours ago — for any disrespect that Novak felt, that I had caused. As I stand here now I can only stand by that apology to Novak,” Jones added.
What did Tony Jones say?
During a live progrramme at Melbourne Park on Australian Open 2025, Jones called Djokovic ‘overrated’ when a group of Serbian fans with flags started cheering in the background. In response, Jones said, “Novak, he’s overrated … Novak’s a has-been. Novak, kick him out.”
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