An Australian broadcaster has apologised to Novak Djokovic and Serbian tennis fans aft calling the 24-time Grand Slam champion "overrated" and a "has-been".
Djokovic, 37, refused to springiness a customary post-match interrogation to Channel Nine anchor Jim Courier aft beating Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic astatine the Australian Open connected Sunday.
He said successful a property league his annoyance was not directed astatine the assemblage but different Channel Nine presenter, Tony Jones, who allegedly mocked a radical of chanting fans connected Friday by singing: "Novak is overrated, Novak's a has-been, Novak footwear him out."
The tennis prima said that helium besides spoke to Craig Tiley, the caput of Tennis Australia, telling him helium would judge a good for him not giving the interview, if the assemblage decided to contented one.
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Not referring to Mr Jones by name, Djokovic aboriginal posted connected X connected Sunday to accidental the comments "made a mockery of Serbian fans" and were "insulting and offensive" towards him.
He said helium hoped for a nationalist apology and that helium would proceed to debar speaking to Mr Jones and the Nine Network until "something is done".
Appearing connected the Today programme connected Monday, Mr Jones offered that apology, saying helium meant the comments arsenic "banter".
"I considered it to beryllium humour, which is accordant with astir things I do," helium said. "Having said that, I was made alert ... that the Djokovic campy was not blessed astatine each with those comments.
"I instantly contacted the Djokovic campy and issued an apology to them. And arsenic I basal present now, I basal by that apology to Novak."
He besides said helium felt helium had "let down the Serbian fans".
He said the 1 remark helium peculiarly regretted was "kick him out", which helium accepted could lone beryllium construed arsenic a notation to Djokovic's deportation from Australia successful a enactment implicit his Covid vaccination presumption successful aboriginal 2022, Sky Sports News reported.
Australia's Nine Network besides issued a connection Monday and apologised to Djokovic "for immoderate offence caused from comments made during a caller unrecorded cross".
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It said: "No harm was intended towards Novak oregon his fans. We look guardant to further showcasing his Australian Open run astatine Melbourne Park."
Djokovic is scheduled to play nary 3 effect Carlos Alcaraz successful the quarter-finals connected Tuesday.