Tony Jones apologises to Djokovic for offensive comments

The Serbian is yet to respond to Jones’ apology

Novak Djokovic, Australian Open Image Credit: Zuma / Psnewz

January 20, 2025

Tony Jones has issued an apology to Novak Djokovic for his comments last week that drove the Serbian to boycott his post-match interview at the Australian Open on Sunday evening.

The Channel 9 reporter, in an alleged attempt at humour, referred to Djokovic as “overrated” and a “has-been”, before implying that the 24-time Grand Slam champion should be deported.

“I do apologise if he felt that I disrespected him,” Jones said on Monday as part of a broadcast on Channel 9 ahead of the day’s play beginning.

“I considered it to be humour, which is consistent with most things I do. Having said that, I was made aware on the 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. And as I stand here now, I stand by that apology to Novak.”

Jones says deportation comment was what offended Djokovic

The journalist – who also made offensive comments towards Naomi Osaka in 2020 and attempted to kiss a woman against her will live on TV in 2016 – says it was his final comment that he believes offended Djokovic the most.

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

“Now, I can stand here and put whatever spin on that, but it can only be interpreted as a throwback to the COVID years when he (Djokovic) was kicked out [over his vaccination status]. Now, that has angered Novak, which I completely understand now. So look, it has been an unfortunate situation. It’s been one of personal angst for Novak.

“It’s quite clearly personal angst for me as well. But I just think the priority here now is to focus on the tennis again.”

It remains to be seen whether Djokovic considers Jones’ apology legitimate, considering the Australian believed the matter to already be resolved by his earlier communication with the 37-year-old’s team.