Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts throughout a fourth spherical match towards Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic on the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025. (AP Picture/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
MELBOURNE, Australia — Novak Djokovic bought the mea culpas he needed from the Australian Open’s native broadcaster and its worker who insulted him on the air and so, in keeping with event organizers, the 24-time Grand Slam champion is prepared to focus on his quarterfinal showdown with Carlos Alcaraz.
“Novak acknowledges the apology has been given in public as requested,” learn an announcement issued Monday by Tennis Australia, “and is now transferring on and specializing in his subsequent match.”
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That, maybe, will draw a curtain on the weird off-court distraction as Djokovic pursues what can be an eleventh championship at Melbourne Park and a report twenty fifth main trophy total.
READ: On-air apology issued to Djokovic over ‘insulting’ feedback
After profitable at Rod Laver Area on Sunday night to arrange the competition towards No. 3 Alcaraz, Djokovic declined to do the customary post-match on courtroom TV interview, however didn’t instantly say why, eliciting some jeering from spectators. Solely later that night time, at his information convention, did Djokovic clarify that he was taking a stand to protest feedback made by Tony Jones on Channel 9 on Friday.
Djokovic, a 37-year-old from Serbia, didn’t title Jones, however stated a “well-known sports activities journalist who works for official broadcaster Channel 9 … made a mockery of Serbian followers and in addition made insulting and offensive feedback towards me.”
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Jones known as Djokovic overrated and a has-been and made what appeared to be a reference to when the participant was deported from Australia in 2022 as a result of he was not vaccinated towards COVID-19.
Djokovic added that he would proceed to keep away from chatting with the community with out an apology from it and Jones.
These lastly arrived on Monday.
9 Community stated in an announcement it apologized “for any offense induced from feedback made” whereas dwell on air.
“No hurt was supposed in the direction of Novak or his followers,” the assertion continued. “We stay up for additional showcasing his Australian Open marketing campaign at Melbourne Park.”
READ: Australian Open: Djokovic gained’t communicate to TV community with out apology
Throughout an look on a TV present Monday, Jones stated he supposed his phrases as “banter” and apologized to Djokovic “if he felt that I disrespected him.”
“I thought of it to be humor, which is according to most issues I do,” Jones stated. “Having stated that, I used to be made conscious … that the Djokovic camp was not comfortable in any respect with these feedback. I instantly contacted the Djokovic camp and issued an apology to them. And as I stand right here now, I stand by that apology to Novak.”
Jones additionally provided phrases to Serbians.
“I do really feel as if I’ve let down the Serbian followers,” he stated. “I’m not simply saying this to try to wriggle out of hassle or something. I genuinely really feel for these followers.”
Serbia’s ambassador to Australia, Rade Stefanovic, even bought concerned Monday, telling the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper that Jones’ feedback have been “clearly unprofessional,” together with a “most regarding” reference to what occurred three years in the past when Djokovic was kicked in a foreign country forward of the event amid the pandemic.
Earlier than Jones and his employer provided their apologies, Djokovic posted a message on social media reiterating why he declined to talk. That drew a reply from billionaire X proprietor Elon Musk, who stated, “It’s method higher simply to speak to the general public straight than undergo the negativity filter of legacy media.”
Djokovic replied to Musk’s tweet with “Certainly” and a raised-hands emoji.
