AO Host Should be Banned for Mocking Djokovic

By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow  | Thursday, January 30, 2025
Photo credit: ATP Cup Facebook

Disgusted by the treatment Novak Djokovic received at the Australian Open, Serbian Davis Cup captain Viktor Troicki said the Channel 9 host who mocked Djokovic should be fired and banned from covering tennis.

Troicki, Djokovic’s long-time friend and former Davis Cup teammate, said the treatment the former No. 1 receives Down Under has gotten “worse and worse” since he was deported from Australia back in 2022 as he was unvaccinated.

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Djokovic said he blew off the on-court interview after his AO fourth-round win in protest of Channel 9 host Tony Jones mocking Serbian fans and insulting Djokovic himself as a “failure” and “overrated.” 

Novak Djokovic explained in his press conference that he didn’t want to talk to host broadcaster Channel 9, probably because of what happened here two days ago. pic.twitter.com/YxZFu7MX9R

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) January 19, 2025

Jones’ comments were televised by host broadcaster Channel 9 while Serbian fans celebrated a Djokovic victory chanting “Nole! Nole!” while waving Serbian flags. Jones, apparently annoyed by the chanting Serbian fans, mocked the crowd in a sing-song voice mimicking Serbian fans but saying “Novak, he’s overrated….Novak, he’s a has-been.”

Troicki says the mockery is a fire able offense in his view.

“There was the situation around Channel 9, which I noticed as well,” Captain Troicki told BolaVip ahead of Sebria’s Davis Cup Qualifying tie vs. Denmark in Copenhagen. “If I had hired that journalist (Tony Jones), I would have fired him straight away. He would never work in sports again.”

Jones did apologize to Djokovic, who in turn conducted a post-match interview following his quarterfinal win over Carlos Alcaraz.

Troicki says the damage has been done and asserts Jones should be banned from tennis.

“I think they are treating Novak worse and worse. It is surprising and disappointing to see the greatest player of all time experiencing so many bad things happening in Australia again.

“After Covid and what they did to him a few years ago, it has never been the same.

“To mock an athlete during the tournament is unacceptable. I don’t think an apology is enough. I think he should be banned for life from covering tennis.”