Australian Open 2025 Day 9: Alex De Minaur hunts quarter finals, Nick Kyrgios trolls Tony Jones after stoush with Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic has put a pin in his Channel 9 feud after accepting Tony Jones’ apology following the broadcaster’s offensive comments directed at him and Serbian fans.

Novak Djokovic has accepted the apology from broadcaster Tony Jones and Channel 9 after the 10-time champion turned down an interview after his fourth-round win on Sunday night.

Jones sang at a group of Serbian fans on-camera, saying “Novak, he’s overrated, Novak kick him out”.

It’s understood the latter comment drew the most ire of the Serbian, who was famouly deported from Australia for refusing to comply with the country’s vaccine mandate.

Jones apologised on-air on Monday morning.

“It’s disappointing it’s come to this, the comments were made on the news on the Friday night which I considered it to be banter, I considered it to be humour, which is consistent with most things I do,’’ Jones said on the Today show.

“Whether it be the Sunday Footy Show or the morning show (at the tennis).

“Having said that 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 an apology to them, this was 48 hours ago, for any disrespect Novak feels that I caused.

“I should also say the disrespect was extended to the Serbian fans.”

Novak Djokovic speaks during a press conference at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne. (Picture: Vince Caligiuri/AFP

A statement released by Tennis Australia on Monday confirmed Djokovic acccepted the apology.

“Novak acknowledges the apology has been given in public as requested, and is now moving on and focusing on his next match,” the statement, which was released by Tennis Australia, said.

Jones copped flak from all parts, from former tennis champions and other members of the media.

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Originally published as Australian Open 2025 Day 9: Alex De Minaur hunts quarter finals, Nick Kyrgios trolls Tony Jones after stoush with Novak Djokovic