Djokovic skips post-match interview over complaint about Nine and Tony Jones

Djokovic was aggrieved by comments made by Jones, an experienced Melbourne sports reporter and presenter, during a cross he did with flag-waving supporters in the background.

“A couple of days ago a famous sports journalist who works for official broadcaster Channel Nine here in Australia made a mockery of Serbian fans, and also made insulting and offensive comments towards me,” Djokovic said.

“Since then he chose not to issue an official public apology. Neither did Channel Nine.”

His action stemmed from footage of presenter Jones doing a cross from Melbourne Park that has been circulating widely on social media.

In it, Jones references the Serbians fans, but also makes several references about Djokovic, including “Novak, kick him out” – in reference to the former world No.1’s infamous deportation from Australia three years ago.

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“The Novak Djokovic fans there in full voice,” Jones says in the video.

“The chants are quite extraordinary.”

He then chants the following: “Novak, he’s overrated. “Novak’s a has-been … Novak, kick him out.

“Boy, I’m glad they can’t hear me.”

This masthead tried to contact Jones on Sunday night after Djokovic’s media conference. Earlier in the day he defended his comments as banter with tennis fans.

“We’ve been doing it all tournament and it’s all in good fun,” Jones said before Djokovic’s fourth-round match on Sunday.

“This is the happy slam.”

Jones declined to comment further.

Australian star Nick Kyrgios also came to Djokovic’s defence on Sunday and laid into the Nine presenter.

“Coming from this clown – couldn’t run around a park this bloke,” Kyrgios said.

Djokovic insisted that his complaint was only about the behaviour of Jones.

“I have nothing against Jim Courier, neither the Australian public. And it was a very awkward situation for me to face the court today,” he said.

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Tennis players on the WTA and ATP are subject to rules about media obligations when they participate in tournaments across the world. Grand slam events also have rules about media commitments for tennis professionals.

World No.5 Daniil Medvedev skipped his compulsory media conference after his second round exit in match that finished at 3am on Friday. The Russian received a combined fine of $123,000 for two other separate offences, including smashing a net camera and breaking his racquet. But he was not fined for not fulfilling his media obligations.

Nine is the owner of this masthead and has been contacted for comment.

Tennis Australia was contacted for comment.

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