Elon Musk has joined the chorus of anger directed at Tony Jones after the Channel Nine star’s ‘disgraceful’ chant directed at Serbian tennis fans led to Novak Djokovic boycotting his post-match interview at the Australian Open on Sunday night.
The drama began on Friday night when Jones – who is a major part of the host broadcaster’s grand slam coverage – stood in front of a group of chanting Serbian fans on live TV and sledged the 24-time grand slam champion.
‘Welcome back to Melbourne Park, where you can see the Novak Djokovic fans, they’re in full voice,’ Jones said. ‘The chants are quite extraordinary.’
He then turned round to face them and pantomimed some sledging chants of his own: ‘Novak, he’s overrated,’ Jones sang. ‘Novak’s a has-been. Novak, kick him out.
‘Boy, I’m glad they can’t hear me. Anyway, let’s get onto the tennis.’
That led to Djokovic boycotting his on-court interview with Nine after he defeated Jiri Lehecka, with the 10-time Australian Open champion explaining that he won’t be doing interviews with Nine until he receives a public apology after being booed by sections of the crowd.
Novak Djokovic is pictured refusing to be interviewed after his victory on Sunday night at the Australian Open
The 24-time grand slam champion was reacting to being mocked by Channel Nine star Tony Jones, who is pictured delivering a public apology on Monday morning
Jones’s outburst has seen him get slammed from pillar to post by some of the biggest names in tennis – and attract support from the world’s richest man, Elon Musk.
The owner of Tesla and X re-tweeted a video Djokovic posted as he explained why he walked off when Nine commentator Jim Courier tried to interview him, with Musk writing: ‘It’s way better just to talk to the public directly than go through the negativity filter of legacy media.’
Djokovic replied by writing ‘Indeed’ accompanied by the raising hands emoji.
Former world No.1 Victoria Azarenka was one of several tennis greats to slam Jones.
‘The audacity to call Novak Djokovic overrated by a reporter is just insane,’ she wrote on X.
‘The guy literally completed tennis by winning everything you can in our sport!’
She was joined by six-time grand slam champion Boris Becker, who wrote on X: ‘That’s actually very disturbing behaviour from a tv broadcaster who works for Channel 9… does he still have a job for the rest of the tournament?’
Former Aussie star Darren Cahill, who now coaches world No.1 Jannik Sinner, also backed Djokovic’s boycott.
‘He [Jones] hosts the Footy Show, which is quite a funny, laughing, breakdown football show for Australian Rules football, which is very popular,’ he explained for ESPN’s American audience.
‘He’s been in the industry for years and years. I’m sure Tony was trying to be funny but it was inappropriate and I don’t blame Novak for taking offence to that.’
Djokovic has received backing from some of the biggest names in tennis since the scandal broke – as well as the world’s richest man, Elon Musk (pictured)
Tennis legend Boris Becker didn’t hold back in his criticism of Jones (pictured), questioning whether the Nine star should still be working at the tournament
Becker was joined in slamming Jones by former world No.1 Victoria Azarenka
Nick Kyrgios – who blasted Jones on Sunday by writing, ‘Coming from this clown – couldn’t run around a park this bloke’ – doubled down on Monday after the star’s apology.
‘Why is it always the most un athletic people calling out the best athletes in the world,’ he commented on X, along with a loudly crying face emoji.
Kyrgios then had a third crack at Jones in a video he posted to Facebook on Monday, showing the area where Nine broadcasts from at Melbourne Park and saying in a voiceover: ‘How the f**k does this guy still have a f**king job? It is putrid stuff. Tony Jones, you absolute flop. F**king Chompers, mate.’
‘Chompers’ is a nickname Jones got saddled with after having work done on his teeth more than 10 years ago and he’s known to hate the moniker.
American former world No.4 James Blake was also firmly on Djokovic’s side.
‘I’m glad he opened his press conference with that [his explanation for the boycott] to shed light on it,’ Blake told ESPN.
‘He’s standing on principles and he’s done that very often in his career and it absolutely makes sense for him to do that.
‘We’ve seen the footage and it is absolutely inappropriate. And we’re waiting for an apology. It’s deserved.’
Outspoken British commentator Piers Morgan was damning in his response, writing: ‘Djokovic is right. That Channel 9 guy was an absolute tool.’
Top tennis commentator Bastien Fachan called for Jones to be sacked over his comments.
‘What Tony Jones said on air was in appallingly bad tasted and purely fueled by hatred – and let’s be real, it should have been a sackable/dismissible offense. Nine chose to stand by him, and so they’re reaping what they sowed,’ he wrote on X.
Jones apologised for his outburst in remarks made to Serbian publication Sport Klub – but since that wasn’t a public statement, or one made directly to Djokovic, the Serb’s boycott remained in place.
The Nine star then made a full and public apology on Nine on Monday morning, in which he claimed he ‘immediately’ contacted the Djokovic camp and apologised on Saturday morning, as soon as he was made aware the Serbian star was offended.
Djokovic slammed Jones and Nine for failing to apologise in his post-match statements on social media and to reporters in his press conference after beating Lehecka.
He began his post-match press conference with a prepared statement: ‘Good evening. I would like to just clarify the reason why the interview was not conducted on the court, the post-match interview, like it’s a common, usual practice.
‘A couple of days ago the famous sports journalist who works for official broadcaster, Channel Nine here in Australia, made a mockery of Serbian fans and also made insulting and offensive comments towards me.
Jones is pictured looking relaxed soon after making his public apology on Monday
‘And since then, he chose not to issue any public apology. Neither did Channel Nine. So since they’re official broadcasters, I chose not to give interviews for Channel Nine.
‘I have nothing against Jim Courier or the Australian public. It was a very awkward situation for me to face on the court today. It’s unfortunate. I chose to say something to the crowd, but obviously it wasn’t the time and space or situation for me to explain what I’m doing right now.
‘I leave it to Channel Nine to handle this the way they think they see fit. That’s all.’
Asked whether this stance would continue until he receives an apology, Djokovic replied: ‘Yes, exactly.’
Djokovic also spoke to Australian Open boss Craig Tiley about the scandal and the possibility he will cop a hefty fine for refusing to be interviewed on court.
‘I have a really nice relationship with Craig, I think he’s a phenomenal guy that always tries to help players and understand the players’ needs or demands, so I just wanted to make sure that he knows where I stand and the reasons behind it,’ Djokovic said.
‘So I told him, “If you guys want to fine me for not giving an on-court interview, that’s OK, I’ll accept that because I feel like this is something that needs to be done”. That’s all there is to it.’
