Channel 9’s Tony Jones’ comments caught the attention of the tennis star, his fans and even the Australian prime minister

Novak Djokovic has “accepted” an apology from Channel 9 sports reporter Tony Jones, who stirred controversy in Australia with comments he claimed he made about the tennis star in jest.

Jones, 63, made headlines after he attempted to tease Serbian fans chanting behind him during a live broadcast. Mocking the fans, the Australian broadcaster mimicked their chanting and joked that they were singing, “Novak, he’s overrated, Novak’s a has-been, Novak kick him out!”

The sportscaster’s comments – including the reference to Djokovic being expelled from Australia in 2022 over his vaccine status – immediately drew condemnation online and led to Djokovic skipping an on-the-court interview after winning a match on Sunday, Jan. 19, at the Australian Open.

“He made insulting and offensive comments towards me,” Djokovic then said in a video he posted on X, moments after skipping the interview.

The latest off-the-court saga surrounding Djokovic led to talking heads across the sports world rebuking Jones for the comments, while some called for his resignation, according to a Channel 9 report about its own broadcaster’s controversy.

Jones’ remarks even drew a response from Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. “I do think there is a place for more respect,” the prime minister said in a radio interview shared on his official website, calling for more “kindness” in sports.

Jones, who was smiling during the exchange with fans on Friday, Jan. 17, reiterated that his comments were meant to be “banter” and humorous in an apology shared via Channel 9.

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“However, 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,” Jones said, according to the BBC. “I immediately contacted the Djokovic camp and issued an apology to them – 48 hours ago – for any disrespect which Novak felt I had caused. As I stand here now I stand by that apology to Novak if he feels any disrespect, which he clearly does.”

The back-and-forth ended with Jones issuing an apology privately and publicly in an interview with Channel 9. Djokovic eventually said he “accepted” Jones’ apology through a statement shared via Australian Open organizers.

“I can only again tell Novak what I told him 48 hours ago, that I do apologize if he felt that I disrespected him,” Jones told Channel 9 in a report on him. “We’ve built up a nice rapport with Serbian fans and what I thought I was doing was an extension of that banter, but quite clearly that hasn’t been interpreted that way. So, I do feel as though I’ve let down the Serbian fans.”

Djokovic will play Carlos Alcaraz in the Australian Open quarterfinals on Tuesday, Jan. 21, seeking his 11th title at the major tournament in Melbourne.