Revealed: Why Channel Nine and Australian Open bosses were blindsided by Novak Djokovic's boycott - as broadcaster makes stunning move to protect Tony Jones
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It's been revealed exactly why Channel Nine and Australian Open bosses were blindsided by Novak Djokovic's dramatic boycott - as the broadcaster beefs up security around Tony Jones. The drama began on Friday night when Jones stood in front of a group of chanting Serbian fans on live TV and sledged the 24-time grand slam champion.
![[Novak Djokovic is pictured refusing to be interviewed after his victory on Sunday night at the Australian Open]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/20/23/94276543-0-Novak_Djokovic_is_pictured_refusing_to_be_interviewed_after_his_-a-2_1737414323839.jpg)
'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.
![[Tennis Australia reached out to Djokovic’s team and explained how Jones had apologised for his comments]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/20/23/94323811-0-image-a-4_1737414352927.jpg)
'Boy, I'm glad they can't hear me. Anyway, let's get onto the tennis.'. When Jones returned to work the next morning, Serbian press had already contacted Channel 9 seeking comment on the matter, reports News Corp. Channel Nine and Australian Open bosses believed they had the Djokovic-Jones drama contained over the weekend.
![[Channel Nine star Tony Jones pictured delivering a public apology on Monday morning]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/20/23/94276533-0-The_24_time_grand_slam_champion_was_reacting_to_being_mocked_by_-a-5_1737414375305.jpg)
Novak Djokovic is pictured refusing to be interviewed after his victory on Sunday night at the Australian Open. The broadcaster quickly moved to get an apology out. 'Unfortunately, my 'humour' the previous evening was misinterpreted as an attack on Novak,' Jones told SportKlub.
![[Djokovic will take on Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday evening]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/20/23/94323799-0-image-a-6_1737414607561.jpg)
'That was certainly not the case. I joke with the Serbian fans throughout the tournament and this — at least I thought so — is a continuation of all that. 'If you watch our Morning Show, you would get an idea of how we work. At no point did I think to show disrespect to Novak and I apologise — there was certainly no intention to offend him.'.
