Channel Nine broadcaster Tony Jones offered an apology to Novak Djokovic for his comments which led to the Serbian star boycotting their coverage in the Australian Open. Djokovic refused to give an on-court interview after his win over Jiri Lehecka on Sunday.

The 10 time Australian Open champion demanded an apology as he insisted Jones insulted him and the Serbian fans during Friday’s evening show. Jones had shouted, "Novak, he's overrated, Novak's a has-been, Novak kick him out."

Jones later issued an apology citing he considered a humour and had already reached Djokovic’s camp on Saturday to apologise for his comments. On Monday, Jones later said on Channel Nine, "I'm disappointed it come to this because the comments were made on the news on the Friday night which I considered to be banter and humour - which is consistent with what I do.

"However, 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.

"I immediately contacted the Djokovic camp and issued an apology to them – 48 hours ago – for any disrespect which Novak felt I had caused.

"As I stand here now I stand by that apology to Novak if he feels any disrespect, which he clearly does.

"The disrespect extends to the Serbian fans – over the years here there has been colour with them and passion and banter, and I thought that was an extension of that banter. Quite clearly that hasn't been interpreted that way.

"I do feel I've let down the Serbian fans. I'm not just saying that to wriggle out of trouble. I genuinely feel for those fans."

Djokovic failed to win a single grand slam last year and will seek to start 2025 with a bang. He is facing Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinal of the Australian Open.

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