Tony Jones vs everyone: Channel 9 veteran’s biggest gaffes, most awkward interviews

Veteran Channel 9 broadcaster Tony Jones can now add Novak Djokovic to his impressive portfolio of awkward interviews, high-profile feuds and mind-melting gaffes. These are TJ’s career ‘highlights’.

Veteran Channel 9 broadcaster Tony Jones not only managed to anger the greatest men’s tennis player of all time, but an entire nation with an ill attempt at humour.

Jones poked fun at Novak Djokovic’s Serbian supporters before turning on the 10-time Australian Open winner during a live segment at Melbourne Park. The “banter”, as Jones called it, went down like a lead balloon.

Jones is building an impressive portfolio of awkward interviews and high-profile feuds at Melbourne Park and in the Channel 9 studio. These are some of his greatest hits.

JONES V DANIELLE COLLINS

Collins became the pantomime villain of the Open when she bragged about spending her tournament paycheck on a holiday – that in response to the parochial home crowd which she felt overstepped the line in its support of Aussie Destanee Aiava during their round two match. Jones hit the airwaves the following day, labelling Collins a “brat” on his 3AW radio show, to which the American responded on Instagram: “Tony, you know the vibe. I hear you make some fat paychecks also. Sounds like you need a good vacay you poor thing #brat #bratsummer.”

Tony Jones, who called Novak overrated & a has-been on live tv, slagging off Danielle Collins here.
There's only one brat & has-been here, and that's you @TJch9pic.twitter.com/2f3WQalQXL

— 𝚗𝚒𝚌𝚔. A͟O͟¹⁰ (@NoleLondon) January 18, 2025

Danielle Collins returns serve in her back and forth with Tony Jones.

JONES V NICK KYRGIOS

Before Djokovic made his feelings known on Sunday night, Aussie Nick Kyrgios jumped to his mate’s defence on Instagram, labelling Jones a “clown” for his on-air comments joking Djokovic was “overrated” and “a has-been”. Never one to let an opportunity slide, Kyrgios shared the clip to his Instagram story, adding: “Coming from this clown – couldn’t run around a park this bloke.”

Nick Kyrgios roasts Tony Jones.

JONES V NAOMI OSAKA

Jones came under fire in 2019 for his post-final interview with that year’s champion, Naomi Osaka, which was picked apart in the aftermath. “It’s a very, very big trophy. I’m not sure how you carried it all this way,” Jones quipped to Osaka, adding “there’s the smile” after Osaka appeared to grin uncomfortably. The Ch9 anchor then suggested Osaka should spend some of her paycheck in Melbourne to “pump that back into the economy”. Jones was also criticised for comments regarding Osaka’s nationality: “Your grandparents back at Japan and you left Japan at three and you still regard yourself as Japanese … it took a time for your grandparents that you and your sisters wanted to play tennis, and then they finally came on board.”

I’m only now finding out that Tony Jones is the same man who made sexist, patronizing remarks to Naomi Osaka after she won the 2019 Australian Open:

‘It is a very, very big trophy, by the way. I’m not sure how you carried it all that way… Now, there’s the smile’

Creepy indeed! pic.twitter.com/fIwyTd9Fkf

— Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) January 19, 2025

Tony Jones asking Osaka how she “managed to carry” her trophy all the way to the studio is ordinary.

Tone, she could prob bench press you.#ausopen

— Darcy Vescio (@darcyvee) January 26, 2019

JONES V BEC JUDD

The on-air gaffe that will forever live in infamy. In 2016, Jones attempted to kiss Rebecca Judd’s cheek while on live TV but she rejected his advance. The clip went mega-viral, and it has repeatedly resurfaced over the years. However, Jones and Judd were recently able to make light of the situation, with Judd joking at last year’s Brownlow Medal that Jones was “scared” of her when they ran into each other. “I was a bit disappointed. I thought he was going to go in for a crack and I’d make a joke about it. You know what, I think he’s scared to be honest. He looked and he kind of went, ‘ugh’.”

JONES V NOVAK

The latest – and perhaps most volatile - flare-up in Jones’ career come this weekend when he earned the ire of the King of Melbourne Park, Novak Djokovic.

Djokovic is never one to shy away from a fight, and he found one when Jones engaged in what he described as playful banter with Serbian fans on live TV.

Jones described Djokovic as ‘overrated’, a ‘has-been’ and made the call to ‘kick him out’ – sledges which enraged the 10-time Australian Open champion.

Djokovic stepped the feud up when he snubbed a post-match interview with tennis legend Jim Courier, on the grounds that he was a Channel 9 stablemate of Jones’ and he was demanding an apology.

Jones apologised on Monday, saying had regrets over the incident. It remains to be seen whether the apology has been accepted by Djokovic.

Originally published as Tony Jones vs everyone: Channel 9 veteran’s biggest gaffes, most awkward interviews