Sunday, Jan 19, 2025. 07:12
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MELBOURNE, Australia – Ten-time winner of the Australian Open Novak Djokovic (7th in the world) justified his hasty exit from the court on Sunday, without giving the traditional post-match interview, by “insulting comments” from a journalist employed by the official broadcaster of the tournament.
After his victory in three sets in the round of 16 in Melbourne against the Czech Jiri Lehecka (29th), Djokovic quickly left the court at Rod Laver Arena, without stopping to carry out the ritual post-match interview.
“A few days ago, a famous sports journalist from Channel 9 made fun of Serbian fans and made insulting comments about me,” the Serb assured at a press conference, without specifying the exact nature of the comments.
-Neither the journalist concerned, whose name Djokovic did not give, nor his employer offered him a “public apology”.
“Given that Channel 9 is the official broadcaster” of the Australian Open, the former world No. 1 has decided to no longer grant them an interview and to refrain from doing post-match interviews until the channel apologizes not.
“I leave Channel 9 manage the situation,” concluded the Serb, who will face Carlos Alcaraz (3rd) in the quarter-finals.
