MELBOURNE, Australia — Following his match victory at the Australian Open on Sunday evening, Novak Djokovic chose to forgo the traditional post-match television interview as a form of protest against comments made by an employee of the official tournament broadcaster.
Djokovic expressed his demand for an apology from Channel 9 and its correspondent Tony Jones, who referred to the esteemed 24-time Grand Slam champion as “overrated” and a “has-been” during a live broadcast at Melbourne Park, where Djokovic’s fans were chanting in support of him.
The Serbian athlete, who is 37 years old, did not directly name Jones but mentioned a “well-known sports journalist” from Channel 9 who, according to Djokovic, “mocked Serbian fans” and directed “insulting and offensive comments” towards him. He made it clear that he would continue to avoid engaging with the network in the future.
“I leave it to Channel 9 to handle this the way they deem appropriate. That’s all,” Djokovic commented.
He later reiterated his stance on the social media platform X, which prompted a response from billionaire owner Elon Musk, who suggested that communicating directly with the public is preferable to navigating the “negativity filter of legacy media.” Djokovic agreed with Musk’s sentiment, replying with “Indeed” along with a raised hands emoji.
After securing a straight-sets victory over Jiri Lehecka at Rod Laver Arena, Djokovic was anticipated to speak with former player Jim Courier on air. Instead, he addressed the crowd personally, stating, “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.”
At the subsequent press conference, Djokovic took a moment at the start to explain his decision to skip the interview, clarifying that his grievances were directed towards Jones and the broadcaster, not Courier or the audience.
Additionally, Djokovic mentioned that he had discussions with Craig Tiley, the CEO of Tennis Australia, regarding the matter. “I just wanted to ensure that he understands my position and the reasons behind it,” Djokovic explained. “So I told him: ‘If you want to fine me for not participating in an on-court interview, that’s fine,’ I’ll accept the consequences because I believe this action is necessary. That’s the essence of the situation.”