MELBOURNE, Australia — In a bold move, Novak Djokovic opted not to participate in the traditional post-match television interview following his victory on Sunday night at the Australian Open. His decision was a response to disparaging remarks made on-air by a representative of the tournament’s official broadcaster.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion expressed a desire for an apology from Channel 9 and Tony Jones, who described Djokovic as “overrated” and a “has-been” during a live transmission while enthusiastic fans cheered for the Serbian star at Melbourne Park.
Without directly naming Jones, Djokovic mentioned a “prominent sports journalist” from Channel 9 who had not only mocked Serbian supporters but also made “insulting and offensive comments” directed at him.
Setting a clear boundary, Djokovic stated his intention to continue avoiding interaction with the network.
“I leave it to Channel 9 to deal with this as they see fit. That’s all,” Djokovic remarked.
After his impressive three-set victory over Jiri Lehecka at the iconic Rod Laver Arena, where he advanced to the quarterfinals, Djokovic surprised many by addressing the crowd instead of speaking to former player Jim Courier on camera. He expressed his gratitude, saying: “Thank you very much for being here tonight. I appreciate your presence and the support. I’ll see you next round. Thank you very much.”
During the post-match press conference, Djokovic took the opportunity to explain to the media his reasoning for skipping the interview, clarifying that his discontent was aimed at Jones and the broadcaster, not at Courier or the loyal fans present.
He also indicated he had a conversation with Craig Tiley, the CEO of Tennis Australia, to communicate his stance on the matter.
“I just wanted to make sure that he understands my position and the reasons behind it,” Djokovic shared. “I told him: ‘If you guys want to impose a fine on me for skipping the on-court interview, that’s fine.’ I’ll accept it because I believe this stance is necessary. That’s the bottom line.”