Australian tennis announcer won't cover Wimbledon after ‘insulting' Novak Djokovic comments
After having some choice words about Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open, Channel Nine sports anchor Tony Jones of Australia will not be on the job for Wimbledon.
The channel will instead 'utilize its London bureau and fly in tennis experts Todd Woodbridge, Alicia Molik, Sam McClure and Jelena Dokic for commentary duties,' according to GB News.
'Welcome back to Melbourne Park, where you can see the Novak Djokovic fans, they're in full voice. The chants are quite extraordinary,' Jones said live for Channel Nine in front of Djokovic's chanting fans at the Australian Open in January, which was won by Jannik Sinner.
Jones then chimed in with a chant of his own: 'Novak, he's overrated. Novak's a has-been. Novak, kick him out. Boy, I'm glad they can't hear me. Anyway, let's get on to the tennis.'
Djokovic, a 24-time major champion, didn't tolerate the disrespect, as he swiftly denied interviewing with Jones and Channel Nine while demanding an apology.
Novak Djokovich demanded an apology from Tony Jones after he found the comments to be offensive.
AP
'Channel Nine here in Australia made a mockery of Serbian fans and also made insulting and offensive comments towards me,' Djokovic said.
Jones did later apologize, explaining that the Serbian fans 'bring flags, so much color, passion and there was banter' and that he thought his words were 'an extension of that banter.'
Jones' 'kick him out' comments particularly struck a chord for many, as Djokovic was deported from Australia over his vaccination status in early 2022.
Australian Open presenter Tony Jones will not cover Wimbledon after his comments about Novak Djokovic.
AP
'If I could turn back time, right, 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,'' Jones said in his apology.
The 63-year-old has been a longtime correspondent for the Australian network's coverage of Wimbledon but will remain in Melbourne this time around.
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