Tony Jones apologises to Novak Djokovic, Marcos Baghdatis says Jones should be booted from AO

Marcos Baghdatis, who made the 2006 Australian Open final, says Tony Jones’ comments about Novak Djokovic were a “disgrace” and he should be banned from Melbourne Park.

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Former Australian Open hero Marcos Baghdatis has jumped to the defence of tennis great Novak Djokovic, declaring comments made against the 10 time Melbourne Park champion a “disgrace”.

Baghdatis – a Melbourne Park cult hero loved by Melbourne crowds including his 2006 run to the final – said Channel 9 reporter Tony Jones should be banned from the Australian Open for comments he made on air.

“I just think he shouldn’t be allowed in the grounds, is my opinion,’’ he said.

“If a player (makes a mistake) nowadays we kill him, so I think this is really disrespectful to tennis, to the sport and to Novak and actually to the tournament.

Marcos Baghdatis says Jones shouldn’t be allowed in the grounds of the tournament. Picture: AAP

“And I think actions should be taken.’’

While he was not sure what the penalty should be, former World No. 8 Baghdatis said the incident should not be allowed to pass without penalty because he believed at least some of the comments were racist

“We couldn’t let it go so easily, I think,’’ he said.

“Because we are talking about racism there.

“We are talking about a lot of things in my opinion.

“If you are say some things on TV that way you are talking.’’

While Djokovic was initially booed by fans who thought he was disrespecting them for leaving the court on Sunday night, Baghdatis said: “He didn’t do anything bad.

“I mean the guy is always treated bad, well most of the time.

“If it’s not directly to him it’s something about him or about something he’s said or about his fans.

“I think that is not fair towards any player, I’m not defending only Novak.

“But I think what the journalist said was really, really disrespectful to Novak but also to tennis in general.

“We are talking about one of our best athletes ever, our best tennis players ever.

“And whatever he was having in his mind, even as a joke, wasn’t good.

“I’m surprised that even he’s allowed to still be in the grounds, from what he has said.

“It’s up to Tennis Australia, to Channel 9 to see but it’s a disgrace to the sport, for what he said.’’

Baghdatis says Jones’ comments were a disgrace to the sport. Picture: AFP

Aussie tennis great Pat Rafter said he “saw both sides” of the argument and thought “some words were lost in translation’’.

“Novak will deal with it how he wants to deal with it and with Tony, he dealt with it and said ‘oh god, maybe I did stuff up. ‘I didn’t mean to.’ ‘’It’s all too late. It’s out there.’’

Australian Sam Stosur, who won the 2011 US Open, said Djokovic had previously used off-court controversies as motivation.

“He has no doubt used some of that stuff in matches to help him play better and get over the line and move on into the next round,’’ she said.

“A few players have done that over the course of his career and over time and I think he is no different in that way.’’

Jones: ‘I overstepped the mark’

Tony Jones has broken his silence on the furore surrounding his comments about Novak Djokovic, insisting he meant no disrespect towards the tennis champion or his fans.

The Channel 9 host and sports presenter says he offered an apology after being made aware the Djokovic camp was seething over the exchange with Serbian fans during the news on Friday night.

“One of disappointment 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 on Monday.

“Whether it be the Sunday Footy Show or whether it be 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 that Novak felt that I caused. And I stand by that apology to Novak if he felt any disrespect which quite clearly he does.

Jones sparked a boycott from Novak by his comments on Friday.

Djokovic declined an on-court interview after his Sunday night match. Picture: Cameron Spencer

Jones added he also meant no disrespect to Serbian fans.

“We’ve built up a nice rapport with the Serbian fans, they come here with the flags and provide so much colour and so much passion and there was banter,” he said.

“I thought what I was doing was an extension of that banter — quite clearly that hasn’t been interpreted that way. I do feel as though I’ve let down Serbian fans. I genuinely feel for those fans.”

Jones said the main comment which raised Djokovic’s ire was when he said “kick him out” — a quip he conceded was unfortunate given the tennis star’s Covid experience in Victoria.

“If I could turn back time — I know we’ve all got PHDs in hindsight — the one thing where I overstepped the mark and this is certainly what really angered Novak Djokovic and his camp is the last comment I made with that back and forth with the crowd — kick him out,” he said.

“It can only been interpreted as a throwback to the Covid years when he was kicked out. That has angered Novak which I completely understand now.”

He added: “It’s been an unfortunate situation. It has been (a time) of personal angst for Novak and quite clearly personal angst for me. 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 be on that and mine is now the broadcast. I can only again tell Novak what I told him 48 hours ago and that is that I do apologise if he felt I disrespected him.”

Jones added he had agreed to meet with Djokovic’s camp in person which never transpired.

He won support from Today co-host Karl Stefanovic who the apology was heartfelt.

“Novak Djokovic is a legend of the sport. He’s very patriotic, he does take things personally which is his right to. TJ’s apology is heartfelt.

“I think Novak is a really good guy. I’ve met him a few times. I’m sure in the fullness of the hours ahead and the matches that are ahead, he’ll be OK. Hopefully that is a chance to focus on the tennis after a few more conversations in the media.”

Originally published as Tony Jones apologises to Novak Djokovic, Marcos Baghdatis says Jones should be booted from AO