“Thanks very a lot for being right here tonight, I respect your presence and assist and I’ll see you subsequent spherical, thanks very a lot.”
They had been the parting phrases by Novak Djokovic to 9 commentator Jim Courier, earlier than strolling off courtroom to viewers booing.
However after defeating Jiri Lehecka the Serbian spoke to Eurosport, after which gave an announcement in his post-match press convention.
“I wish to simply make clear the explanation why the interview was not carried out on the courtroom, the post-match interview, prefer it’s a standard, traditional apply,” Djokovic stated.
“Couple days in the past the well-known sports activities journalist (Tony Jones) who works for official broadcaster, Channel 9 right here in Australia, made a mockery of Serbian followers and likewise made insulting and offensive feedback in direction of me. And since then, he selected to not problem any public apology. Neither did Channel 9.
“So since they’re official broadcasters, I selected to not give interviews for Channel 9. I’ve nothing towards Jim Courier or neither the Australian public.
“It was a really awkward scenario for me to face on the courtroom at this time. It’s unlucky I selected to say one thing to the gang, however clearly wasn’t the time and area or scenario for me to elucidate what I’m doing proper now.
“I go away it to Channel 9 to deal with this the best way they assume they see match. That’s all.”
In entrance of chanting Serbian followers Jones had shouted, “Novak, he’s overrated. Novak’s a has-been. Novak, kick him out!” earlier than including “I’m glad they’ll’t hear me.”
9 has beforehand been contacted for remark.
Up to date:
“Sadly, my ‘humour’ the opposite night time was misinterpreted as an assault on Novak,” Tony Jones has instructed Serbian outlet Sport Klub.
“That was actually not the case. I’ve been joking with Serbian followers all through the event and that is – at the very least I assumed so – a continuation of that.
“If you happen to watch our morning present, you’ll get an thought of how we work. At no level did I imply to point out any disrespect to Novak and I apologise – there was actually no intention to offend him.”
Information.com.au reviews he additionally stated on the In the present day Present:
“If I might simply offer you a little bit of a timeline right here — the feedback had been made on the information on the Friday night time, which I thought-about to be banter. I thought-about it to be humour. Which is in line with most issues I do, whether or not it’s the Sunday Footy Present or on the morning present or right here.
“Having stated that, I used to be made conscious on Saturday morning from Tennis Australia by way of the Djokovic camp, that the Djokovic camp was not glad in any respect with these feedback.
“As such, I instantly contacted the Djokovic camp and issued an apology to them, so that is 48 hours in the past.
“However any disrespect that Novak felt that I triggered and as I stand right here now I stand by that apology to Novak if he felt any disrespect, which clearly he does.”
He additionally apologised to the Serbian followers he heckled within the interview with 9 sport presenter Clint Stanaway.
“I also needs to say the disrespect was prolonged, I assume in some ways, to the Serbian followers,” Jones stated.
“And as being right here for the final seven years, we’ve got constructed up a pleasant rapport with the Serbian followers. They arrive right here with the flags they usually present a lot color and a lot ardour – and there was banter.
“So I assumed what I used to be doing was an extension of that banter. Fairly clearly, that hasn’t been interpreted that manner. So I do really feel as if I’ve let down the Serbian followers. I’m not simply saying this to wriggle out of bother or something like that. I genuinely really feel for these followers.”
He stated there have been three phrases that angered Djokovic essentially the most.
“I feel the one factor the place I overstepped the mark, and that is actually what’s actually form of angered Novak Djokovic and his camp is the final remark that I made in that backwards and forwards with the gang, ‘Kick him out’,” Jones stated of the chants he directed on the followers standing within the background of the digital camera shot.
“I can stand right here and put no matter spin I would like on that, however it will probably solely be interpreted as a throwback to the Covid years when he was kicked out.
“That has angered Novak, which I fully perceive now.
“It’s an unlucky scenario. It’s been one in every of private angst for Novak. It’s fairly clearly private angst for me as effectively. However I feel the precedence right here now could be to concentrate on the tennis once more.
“He’s acquired a tremendous match developing tomorrow night time towards Carlos Alcaraz and I hope his focus can now be on that and my focus is now the printed once more. I can solely once more inform Novak what I did 48 hours in the past and that’s that I do apologise if he felt I disrespected him.”
Supply: FOX Sports activities