Outraged by Disrespect Shown by AO Broadcasters

Vegas Tennis Team
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Outraged by Disrespect Shown by AO Broadcasters

By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Photo credit: Matthew Calvis

The Australian Open, often called the Happy Slam, has turned into a battleground of sorts for Ben Shelton.

The 22-year-old talent showcased his skills by defeating Lorenzo Sonego with a scoreline of 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(4), propelling him into the semifinals of this prestigious tournament.

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In a post-match interview, Shelton directed his disappointment at AO’s official broadcaster, Channel 9, accusing them of displaying a lack of respect toward players during broadcasts and interviews.

The 21st seed expressed his shock at what he perceives as a culture of disdain among certain interviewers, calling their coverage “embarrassing.”

“I’ve found it surprising how players have been treated throughout this week,” Shelton remarked at a media gathering in Melbourne. “The incident with Novak was not an isolated incident.”

“I’ve observed this behavior not just towards me but towards others too. After Learner Tien’s triumph over Medvedev, the tone of his post-match interview felt disrespectful and embarrassing.”

Following his fourth-round victory against Jiri Lehecka, Novak Djokovic briefly addressed the audience but opted out of the mandatory on-court interview due to what he termed “insulting” remarks from Channel 9’s Tony Jones.

Jones’ remarks were aired while passionate Serbian fans celebrated a Djokovic win with chants of “Nole! Nole!” and waved flags. Seemingly irritated by the fervor, Jones mocked the crowd’s excitement, singing taunts like “Novak, he’s overrated….Novak, he’s a has-been.”

Djokovic condemned Jones for ridiculing Serbian fans and launching offensive comments about himself.

“Just a couple of days ago, a prominent journalist for Channel 9 made fun of Serbian fans and directed offensive remarks towards me,” Djokovic stated. “Since then, no public apology has been issued, neither by him nor by Channel 9. As they are the official broadcasters, I made the decision not to give interviews to them.

“I hold no grievances against Jim Courier or the Australian public. However, this situation created a considerable level of discomfort for me on the court today.”

In the end, Jones issued an apology to Djokovic, leading to an extensive on-court interview following his dramatic quarterfinal victory against Carlos Alcaraz.

Moreover, Shelton highlighted the inappropriate questions directed at young star Learner Tien after his stunning win over three-time finalist Daniil Medvedev, as well as an interviewer’s ridiculous inquiry about Gael Monfils being Tien’s father. Shelton underscored that such comments have crossed the line into antagonism during this year’s tournament.

“Some questions posed to me in post-match interviews by various individuals just felt off base,” Shelton added, sharing his thoughts. “Like, ‘Hey, is Monfils old enough to be your dad? Maybe he is your dad.’ Or comments like, ‘No matter who you face in your next match, no one will be cheering for you.’ While there might be some truth to the statement, it’s not a respectful remark from someone I’ve never met.”

For years, players have been subjected to harsh insults and personal attacks, not to mention threats from disgruntled gamblers or malicious social media critics.

Recently, more athletes have vocally criticized mainstream media and broadcasters when they felt that commentary spiraled into outright mockery.

Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova openly berated Tennis Channel’s Jon Wertheim for making sarcastic comments during what he presumed was a rehearsal, which unexpectedly aired and ended up circulating on social media.

As a result, TC suspended Wertheim until the end of the year, prompting criticism of Krejcikova for calling out the mockery and claims from some commentators that professionals should toughen up and learn to accept criticism as part of the game.

Several players have claimed that Channel 9’s commentators have made derisive comments, defending their behavior as merely being “cheeky” or “snarky” to deflect backlash.

Shelton articulated that there is a profound difference between critique of a player’s performance and personal attacks.

After facing backlash from commentators, fans, and fellow players—including Djokovic—for his infamous “hang up” gesture during his impressive run to the semifinals of the 2023 US Open, Shelton questioned the negativity that surrounds the so-called Happy Slam.

Moreover, Shelton emphasized that if players cannot trust the broadcasting network—having invested millions of dollars to showcase the Australian Open—to respect them and the sport, what does that imply for tennis promotion?

“I believe broadcasters should be instrumental in growing our sport and assisting these athletes in relishing their achievements on one of the grandest stages,” Shelton stated. “Regrettably, there has been an abundance of negativity, which is something that absolutely needs to be addressed.”

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