Broadcaster apologizes to Djokovic, Serbian fans for comments - ESPN

MELBOURNE, Australia — Australian broadcaster Tony Jones has apologized to Novak Djokovic and Serbian tennis fans after he admittedly crossed the line in heckling fans during a news segment Friday.

The apology came after Djokovic skipped the customary on-court interview Sunday night after his fourth-round win at the Australian Open. The 24-time Grand Slam winner said it was a protest of Jones and Australian host broadcaster Channel 9.

In his news segment Friday, Jones heckled Serbian fans by saying Djokovic was «overrated,» a «has-been» and to «kick him out.»

On Monday morning, Jones appeared on Channel 9's «Today» morning show to issue an apology to Djokovic and the Serbian tennis fans after Djokovic said he wouldn't be engaging with the local broadcaster until a public apology was issued.

Jones said he thought he was engaging in «banter» with the fans, but admitted he crossed the line.

«The comments were made on the news on Friday night, which I considered to be banter,» Jones said. «I considered it to be humor, which is consistent with most things I do.

»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 had caused. And as I stand here now, I can only stand by that apology to Novak if he felt any disrespect, which quite clearly he does."

Jones said he felt he «overstepped the mark» with the «kick him out» comment, which «can only be interpreted as a throwback to the COVID years.»

Djokovic wasn't allowed to defend his Australian Open title in 2022 because of