Veteran Nine sports reporter Tony Jones has apologised on air to Novak Djokovic for “any disrespect” implied by his comments mocking fans of the Australian Open champion, as the Serbian Council of Australia lodged a human rights complaint and called for Jones to be fired.
Jones said he had previously offered a private apology to Djokovic’s camp on Saturday morning, a day after his remarks, after learning from Tennis Australia that the 10-time tournament winner was “was not happy at all with those comments”.
“I stand by that apology to Novak if he felt any disrespect, which quite clearly he does,” Jones said in a pre-recorded segment of the Morning Show on Monday.
A fuming Djokovic chose not to speak on court to Jim Courier on Sunday evening after booking his spot in the quarter-finals for the 15th time in Melbourne.
He later told reporters he would continue his boycott of the host broadcaster Channel Nine until he gets an apology in public for a controversial live cross in which Jones chanted at Serbian fans: “Novak, he’s overrated. Novak’s a has-been … Novak, kick him out”.
Jones obliged on Monday as the backlash grew, extending his apology to include the Serbian fans, with whom he said he had a long-standing rapport that included playful banter.
“I thought what I was doing was an extension of that banter, quite clearly that hasn’t been interpreted that way,” he said. “So I do feel as though I’ve let down the Serbian fans.”
Jones said the one comment where he “overstepped the mark” was when he said ‘kick him out’ in reference to the former world No.1’s infamous deportation from Australia three years ago.
“That has angered Novak, which I completely understand now. So look, it’s it has been an unfortunate situation. It’s been one of personal angst for Novak. It’s quite clearly personal angst for me as well.”
The apology came as Djokovic’s on-court interview boycott sparked discussion around the world, including from Elon Musk who was supportive Djokovic’s decision to circumvent the media organisation.
Channel Nine sports presenter Tony Jones (right) has publicly apologised to Novak Djokovic.Credit: Nine
Meanwhile, tennis names including former world number one Boris Becker, Australian player Nick Kyrgios, Jannik Sinner’s coach Darren Cahill and Belarusian tennis star Victoria Azarenka all spoke out in support of Djokovic.
Azarenka questioned “the audacity” of calling Djokovic overrated, while Becker questioned whether Jones should “still have a job for the rest of the tournament?”
Even Prime Minister Anthony Albanese weighed in, calling for more “kindness and generosity”.
Asked by ABC Sydney host Hamish Macdonald whether Djokovic deserved an apology from Nine, Albanese said: “I think Novak Djokovic is certainly a fine tennis player, there’s no doubt about that.”
“And I do think there is a place for more respect. I’ve seen the comments made by [Jones]. We need more kindness and generosity and respect across the board. That’s what people are looking for,” he said.
Channel Nine released a statement following Tony Jones’ on-air apology, saying the tournament broadcaster looked forward to showcasing his Australian Open campaign at Melbourne Park.
“Nine would like to apologise to Novak Djokovic for any offence caused from comments made during a recent live cross. No harm was intended towards Novak or his fans,” it read.
However, the dual apologies did nothing to appease the outraged Serbian community with the Serbian Council of Australia lodging a complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission over the incident.
The council said Jones had talked to Australian-Serbian fans before a live broadcast and asked them to begin chanting and cheering before making comments about them that were “offensive, racist and only serve to incite further discrimination of Australian-Serbs”.
It called for Jones to be dismissed over the controversy.
“For Australian-Serbs, the words ‘kick him out’ is akin to saying ‘kick the Serbs out of Australia’ because there is strong evidence of feelings of exclusion due to media reporting about Australian-Serbs in the past.
Serbian tabloids reported that Jones, whom they describe as having insulted Djokovic and Serbs, had “earlier attacked” Djokovic.
Several websites have revived Jones’ comments from 2022, when, according to a story from nine.com.au at the time, Jones said:
“There is certainly sentiment running high for Novak Djokovic which certainly wasn’t the case probably two weeks ago when he was very much the villain.
Djokovic was insulted by comments made by Jones, an experienced Melbourne sports reporter and presenter, during a cross he did with flag-waving supporters in the background.
“A couple of days ago a famous sports journalist who works for official broadcaster Channel Nine here in Australia made a mockery of Serbian fans, and also made insulting and offensive comments towards me,” Djokovic said.
“Since then he chose not to issue an official public apology. Neither did Channel Nine.”
His complaint stemmed from footage of Jones doing a live cross from Melbourne Park that has been circulating widely on social media.
In it, Jones references the Serbians fans, but also makes several references about Djokovic, including “Novak, kick him out”.
“The Novak Djokovic fans there in full voice,” Jones says in the video. “The chants are quite extraordinary.”
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