Thomas Siniecki, Media365: published on Monday January 20, 2025 at 11:50 a.m.
If he were to beat Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday, the Serb would have to agree to speak on the court again.
It was not Novak Djokovic who spoke directly, but through the Australian Federation, the former world No. 1 confirms that he is “moving on” after the apologies of Tony Jones, the presenter of the official local broadcaster Channel 9: “He acknowledges that the apology was made publicly, as he had requested. He is now focused on his next match.” And not the least, since it will be Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.
-Even the Prime Minister called for “more kindness and respect”
During an intervention in the stands in Melbourne, the commentator made viewers believe, in a humorous tone, that the Serbian supporters behind him were singing that their idol was overrated, outdated and that it was necessary to expel. All in a still particular context for Novak Djokovic in Melbourne, where he was kept in the hotel for several days in 2022, then expelled from the country, faced with his refusal to be vaccinated against Covid… This is not had therefore not contacted the “Djoker”, who had expressed his dissatisfaction by declining the post-match interview on the court, in the wake of his round of 16 victory against Jiri Lehecka.
Tony Jones reiterated his first apology, taking the time to back it up a little further on Monday morning: “I thought it was humor, as I often do. That being said, I was informed on Saturday morning that Novak Djokovic and his team were very angry. I immediately contacted them to apologize – 48 hours ago – for any disrespect felt by Novak Djokovic and of which I am concerned. the origin. I must also add that it also affected, in many aspects, the Serbian supporters with whom I have built a great relationship. We support each other, and I believed that what I said fit into this framework. Clearly, it wasn’t interpreted that way, I feel like I disappointed them and that’s unfortunate.” Channel 9 also published a message of apology and even the Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, called (on ABC) “more kindness and respect from all sides”.
