Novak Djokovic expected to fulfil Ch9 media commitments after Tony Jones issues public apology

Novak Djokovic has responded to Tony Jones’ public apology after the feud threatened to derail Ch9’s Australian Open coverage.

Novak Djokovic is expected to fulfil his media commitments on Tuesday, with Tennis Australia telling news.com.au that he has buried the hatchet with the network.

On Sunday, Djokovic left tennis legend Jim Courier hanging as the 10-time Australian Open champion snubbed his Channel 9 on-court interview to protest comments made on air by Tony Jones – who works for the Nine network.

The Serbian superstar then fronted the post-match press conference and made it clear that the “offensive comments” made by Jones days earlier were behind his boycott.

The 37-year-old also explained that he would not conduct media duties with Courier or Channel 9 until Jones and the network apologised for the remarks.

In response, on Monday morning Jones broke his silence during an interview on Nine’s Today Show.

His apology included a sensational claim that he had already apologised to members of Djokovic’s support team behind the scenes in secret - more than 24 hours before his walk-off.

When asked for his reaction to the saga, Jones responded: “One of disappointment that it has come to this I’ve got to say.

MORE: ‘Retirement’: Novak Djokovic’s humble $900k move

“If I could just give you a bit of a timeline here — the comments were made on the news on the Friday night, which I considered to be banter. I considered it to be humour. Which is consistent with most things I do, whether it be the Sunday Footy Show or on the morning show or here.

“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, so this is 48 hours ago.

“But any disrespect that Novak felt that I caused and as I stand here now I stand by that apology to Novak if he felt any disrespect, which clearly he does.”

He also apologised to the Serbian fans he heckled.

“I should also say the disrespect was extended, I guess in many ways, to the Serbian fans,” Jones said.

“And as you know... we have built up a nice rapport with the Serbian fans. They come here with the flags and they provide so much colour and so much passion – and there was banter.

Novak Djokovic decided to not fulfil his Channel 9 media duties on Sunday due to remarks made by Tony Jones.

“So I thought what I was doing was an extension of that banter. Quite clearly, that hasn’t been interpreted that way. So I do feel as though I have let down the Serbian fans. I’m not just saying this to wriggle out of trouble or anything like that. I genuinely feel for those fans.”

While many were critical of Jones’ apology, news.com.au understands Djokovic is satisfied and will resume all his media obligations with the network moving forward.

“Novak acknowledges the apology has been given in public as requested, and is now moving on and focusing on his next match,” Tennis Australia said in a statement to news.com.au on Tuesday morning.

News.com.au understands Djokovic will make himself available to Courier following his quarter-final clash with world No.3 Carlos Alcaraz.

Djokovic set to escape fine

Djokovic is set to also escape sanctions for failing to fulfil his media commitments following his fourth-round win.

News.com.au understands Tennis Australia has decided not to fine the tennis superstar, despite him breaking ATP rules.

Djokovic said he would accept a fine for skipping his on-court interview, but news.com.au understands Tennis Australia in conjunction with the other three grand slam tournament organisers decided not to fine the tennis icon despite the ATP offical rulebook stating:

“Unless injured and physically unable to appear, a player or team must be available, as determined by ATP, on court (for TVs only), in the mixed zone or media conference area after the conclusion of each match whether the player or team was the winner or loser.”

“Post-match media obligations include three interviews, with the news service, host and player’s national broadcasters.”

The rules also state that for a player ranked in the top 10 - which Djokovic is - a breach would result in a $20,000 fine.

Djokovic is not expected to be fined for his Ch9 snub. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Djokovic most angered by ‘kick him out’ remark

In his apology, Jones said there were three words that angered Djokovic the most.

“I think the one thing where I overstepped the mark, and this is certainly what’s really sort of angered Novak Djokovic and his camp is the last comment that I made in that back and forth with the crowd, ‘Kick him out’,” Jones said of the chants he directed at the fans standing in the background of the camera shot.

“I can stand here and put whatever spin I want on that, but it can only be interpreted as a throwback to the Covid years when he was kicked out.

“That has angered Novak, which I completely understand now.

“It’s an unfortunate situation. It’s been one of personal angst for Novak. It’s quite clearly personal angst for me as well. But I think the priority here now is to focus on the tennis again.

“He’s got an amazing match coming up tomorrow night against Carlos Alcaraz and I hope his focus can now be on that and my focus is now the broadcast again. I can only again tell Novak what I did 48 hours ago and that is that I do apologise if he felt I disrespected him.”

Djokovic was famously detained by Australian immigration officers and held in an immigration hotel after having his visa cancelled upon arrival in Melbourne ahead of the 2022 Australian Open — because he was not vaccinated against Covid.

He was then deported.

The 37-year-old said on the eve of this year’s tournament that he still feels “trauma” when entering Australia.

Tony Jones has apologised to Djokovic.

Djokovic on Sunday night also said he meant no disrespect to Courier or the Australian public and just wanted Channel 9 to do the right thing.

“I’d like to just clarify the reason why it was not conducted on the court,” Djokovic said.

“A couple of days ago the famous sports journalist who works for official broadcaster here in Australia made a mockery of Serbian fans and also made insulting and offensive comments towards me. And since then he chose not to issue any public apology, neither did Nine.

“Since they’re official broadcasters I chose not to give interviews for Channel 9. I have nothing against Jim Courier or the Australian public. It’s unfortunate.

“I chose to say something to the crowd but obviously wasn’t the time and situation to explain what I’m doing right now.

“I leave it to Nine to handle this the way they see fit.”

The “King of Melbourne Park” also released a self-recorded video message to his fans, apologising for not speaking to them on the court.

“That was the only reason I didn’t do the interview,” he said of Jones.

“It was of course not a great feeling for me and it was quite awkward on the court.

“Jim Courier was the one that came out. I have tremendous respect for him and I always love speaking to Jim and I know that a lot of people wanted to hear me speak so I apologise for everyone being in the stadium and not being able to hear me speak. And on the TV as well.”

Novak’s walk off caused a stir. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Jones makes bizarre first apology

Before making an apology on Channel 9, Jones made a bizarre first apology through a Serbian news outlet.

“Unfortunately, my ‘humour’ the other night was misinterpreted as an attack on Novak,” he told Serbian publication Sport Klub.

“That was certainly not the case. I’ve been joking with Serbian fans throughout the tournament and this is – at least I thought so – a continuation of that.

“If you watch our morning show, you’ll get an idea of how we work. At no point did I mean to show any disrespect to Novak and I apologise – there was certainly no intention to offend him.”

Elsewhere on Channel 9, Today Show hosts Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo made light of the situation on Monday morning.

Novak Djokovic snubbed Jim Courier on Sunday. Picture: Michael Klein.

‘Absolute tool’: World reacts to Djokovic boycott

Two-time grand slam winner Victoria Azarenka led the support of Djokovic - and criticism of Jones.

“The audacity to call Novak Djokovic overrated by a reporter is just insane,” she tweeted. “The guy literally completed tennis by winning everything you can in our sport!”

Piers Morgan was also on the Serb’s side. “Djokovic is right. That Channel 9 guy was an absolute tool.”

The world’s richest man Elon Musk even entered the debate when responded to Djokovic’s video post on X.

“It’s way better just to talk to the public directly than go through the negativity filter of legacy media,” Musk replied to the video.

“Indeed,” Djokovic wrote back.

Australian tennis coach Darren Cahill said on ESPN in America Jones was just trying to make a joke that bombed spectacularly.

“Tony Jones. He works for Nine News here in Melbourne,” Cahill explained.

“He hosts the Footy Show, which is quite a funny, laughing breakdown football show for Australian rules football which is very popular.

“He’s been in the industry for years and years and years. I’m sure Tony was trying to be funny, but it was inappropriate and I don’t blame Novak for taking offence to that.”

American tennis great James Blake responded by saying: “I’m glad he opened his press conference with that, to shed light on it.

“It does make sense now. He’s standing on principles and he’s done that very often in his career and it absolutely makes sense for him to do that. We’ve seen the footage and it is absolutely inappropriate. And we’re waiting for an apology. It’s deserved.”

German tennis legend Boris Becker, who previously coached Djokovic, also hit out on X.

“That’s actually very disturbing behaviour from a tv broadcaster who works for Channel 9,” Becker posted.

Nick Kyrgios called Tony Jones a “clown” on Sunday. Photo: Channel 9 and Getty.

“Does he still have a job for the rest of the tournament?”

Tennis commentator Bastien Fachan also posted on X: “Good on Djokovic for making a strong statement here.

“What Tony Jones said on air was in appallingly bad taste and purely fueled by hatred - and let’s be real, it should have been a sackable/dismissible offense.

“Nine chose to stand by him, and so they’re reaping what they sowed.”

Earlier on Sunday, Nick Kyrgios took to Instagram to label Jones a “clown” while Danielle Collins also called him an “old guy” in her post-match press conference.

The Jones comments that upset Djokovic

Jones was reading the sports news for Nine’s evening news bulletin live from Melbourne Park on Friday night when a large group of Djokovic fans holding Serbian flags began cheering in the background behind him.

“Welcome back to Melbourne Park, where you can see the Novak Djokovic fans, they’re in full voice,” Jones said.

“The chants are quite extraordinary,” he added, before firing a few bold sledges back to the Djokovic fans.

“Novak, he’s overrated,” Jones sang.

“Novak’s a has-been. Novak, kick him out.

“Boy, I’m glad they can’t hear me. Anyway, let’s get onto the tennis.”

As he finished his bulletin, Jones said: “Alright that wraps it up from Melbourne Park. Somehow I’m going to have to get out of here.

“No we’re fine, we had selfies. I told them I was Clint Stanaway.”

In a comment provided to news.com.au after the incident, Jones said: “It was good natured banter with the Serbian fans. We’ve been doing it all tournament and it’s all in good fun. This is the happy Slam.”

The Serbian will return to action on Tuesday when he goes up against Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinal stages.