The 2025 Australian Open took a controversial turn when host broadcaster Tony Jones heckled Novak Djokovic fans during a news segment, referring to the star player as “overrated” and a “has-been.” The comments prompted an immediate protest from Djokovic, who skipped his customary on-court interview after his fourth-round win Sunday night.
In response, Jones appeared on Channel 9’s “Today” morning show Monday to issue a public apology to both Djokovic and his Serbian supporters. The veteran broadcaster admitted he had crossed a line with his attempts at “banter” with the passionate fan base.
I was made aware on 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 — this was 48 hours ago — for any disrespect that Novak felt, that I had caused.
– Tony Jones, broadcaster
Jones said he especially regretted telling fans to “kick him out,” a remark he acknowledged could only be interpreted as a reference to Djokovic’s forced absence from the tournament in 2022 due to his unvaccinated status and Australia’s COVID protocols at the time. The 24-time Grand Slam champion has spoken about the lingering “trauma” he associates with Melbourne because of the deportation saga.
In his apology, Jones also praised the Serbian fans for the passion and color they bring to the event, and lamented that he had let them down after building a “nice rapport” over the years. Djokovic, for his part, took to social media to explain his decision to skip the on-court interview as a direct protest of Jones’ conduct.
The controversy comes as Djokovic prepares to face rising superstar Carlos Alcaraz in a blockbuster quarterfinal matchup on Tuesday. The Serbian legend will seek to put the distraction behind him as he continues his pursuit of a record-extending 11th Australian Open title.
The incident underscores the intense emotions and complex dynamics at play whenever Djokovic takes the court in Melbourne. His popularity among diehard Serbian supporters stands in stark contrast to a more ambivalent reception from the general Australian public, stemming largely from his unvaccinated status and last year’s deportation.
As the 35-year-old legend writes another chapter in his storied Australian Open history, the Jones apology serves as a reminder of the polarizing nature of his presence at the event he has dominated for over a decade. With the stakes rising and old controversies still simmering under the surface, Djokovic’s 2025 campaign promises to be one of the most dramatic yet.
