The 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic has received an apology from an Australian broadcaster for comments he made on television that the athlete deemed “insulting and offensive”.
While live-streaming the Australian Open on Friday, Tony Jones of Channel Nine yelled at Djokovic supporters: “Novak, he’s overrated, Novak’s a has-been, Novak kick him out.” Because of this, Djokovic declined to participate in his customary on-court interview after his victory against Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round, since Channel Nine is the tournament’s official broadcaster.
Djokovic admitted in a news conference that Jones had “made a mockery of Serbian fans and also made insulting and offensive comments towards me”. The athlete also added that he was put into a “very awkward situation”.
Jones’ apology
Jones said on Channel Nine on Monday: “I’m disappointed it come to this because the comments were made on the news on the Friday night which I considered to be banter and humour – which is consistent with what I do… However, I was made aware on the Saturday morning from Tennis Australia, via the Djokovic camp, that the Djokovic camp was not happy at all with those comments.”
He added: “I immediately contacted the Djokovic camp and issued an apology to them – 48 hours ago – for any disrespect which Novak felt I had caused. As I stand here now I stand by that apology to Novak if he feels any disrespect, which he clearly does.”
“The disrespect extends to the Serbian fans – over the years here there has been colour with them and passion and banter, and I thought that was an extension of that banter. Quite clearly that hasn’t been interpreted that way. I do feel I’ve let down the Serbian fans. I’m not just saying that to wriggle out of trouble. I genuinely feel for those fans.”
Jones acknowledged that his remark to “kick him out” might be taken as a reference to Djokovic’s 2022 deportation from Australia due to the nation’s COVID-19 restrictions. He stated: “That has angered Novak – I completely understand that… It has been an unfortunate situation and one of personal angst for Novak and personal angst for me as well. The priority now is to focus on tennis. He has an amazing match and I hope he can focus on that.”
Channel Nine apologized as well, stating that there was no harm intended towards the athlete and his fans.
Due to Jones’ comments that are “offensive, racist, and only serve to incite further discrimination of Australian-Serbs”, the Serbian Council of Australia has demanded that he be fired.
Team Australia also said: “Novak acknowledges the apology has been given in public as requested and is now moving on and focusing on his next match.”
Source: BBC