After his victory against Jiri Lehecka in the round of 16 of the Australian Open, Novak Djokovic refused to participate in the on-court interview, normally carried out by former world number 1 Jim Courier. At a press conference, the Serb immediately explained himself.
“I would just like to clarify things and explain why the interview was not conducted on court, as is standard, usual practice. A few days ago, the famous sports journalist who works for the official broadcaster, Channel 9, here in Australia, made fun of Serbian fans and also made insulting and offensive comments towards me. Since then, he has chosen not to issue a public apology. Neither does Channel 9. So, as they are the official broadcasters, I chose not to give interviews. I have nothing against Jim Courier or the Australian public. It was a very embarrassing situation that I had to face on court today. It is regrettable but it is obvious that I had neither the time, nor the space, nor the situation to explain my decision. I leave it to Channel 9 to handle this matter as they see fit. That’s all. »
Published on Sunday January 19, 2025 at 1:26 p.m.
