Novak Djokovic has addressed the controversy surrounding his decision to skip his post-match interview at the Australian Open following his commanding win over Jiri Lehecka.
Novak Djokovic has addressed the controversy surrounding his decision to skip his post-match interview at the Australian Open following his commanding win over Jiri Lehecka. The Serbian tennis legend, who cruised to a 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) victory, reached the quarter-finals in Melbourne, keeping his hopes alive for an 11th Australian Open title.
A quick win, but an unexpected exit
Despite facing a younger opponent, 23-year-old Lehecka, Djokovic showed his trademark precision and poise on the court. However, the victory celebration took a turn when the 37-year-old chose not to engage in the customary on-court interview with Jim Courier.
Instead of discussing his performance, Djokovic took the microphone briefly to thank the crowd before walking off the court.
Novak Djokovic explains his decision
After the incident, Djokovic posted a video on social media to clarify his actions, expressing his gratitude to fans and sharing his reasoning behind the boycott. He revealed the root cause stemmed from recent remarks made by Australian sports journalist Tony Jones, who made offensive comments about Djokovic and his Serbian fanbase.
“I just want to take a moment to reflect on what happened on the court,” Djokovic said in the video. “The reason I did not do the interview is because a few days ago, a famous sports journalist here from Australia mocked Serbian fans and made insulting comments about me. I was hoping he would apologize publicly, but he hasn’t done that yet, and neither has Channel 9.”
Respect for Jim Courier, apologies for the situation
Despite the heated circumstances, Djokovic made it clear that his decision wasn’t a reflection of his feelings toward Jim Courier, the four-time Grand Slam champion who was attempting to de-escalate the situation. Djokovic expressed his admiration for Courier, emphasizing that his absence from the interview was purely due to his frustration with the comments made by the journalist.
“Jim Courier was the one that came out, I have tremendous respect for him and I always love speaking to Jim,” Djokovic added. “I know a lot of people wanted to hear me speak, so I apologize for everyone who didn’t get to hear me.”
The source of the controversy
The controversy traces back to a live broadcast on Friday when Tony Jones, an Australian newsreader, publicly mocked Djokovic during a broadcast. He was heard shouting insults toward Djokovic’s fans, including calling the 24-time Grand Slam champion “overrated” and a “has-been.”
The situation has yet to be resolved, with Djokovic’s stance remaining firm unless an apology is issued. It remains uncertain whether talks will take place to address the issue further, particularly as Djokovic looks to continue his pursuit of another title at the Australian Open, with the possibility of more on-court interviews in the coming rounds.
