Novak Djokovic refused to take an on-court interview with Jim Courier, official presenter of Channel 9 at the Australian Open.
Novak Djokovic (via X)
The Serbian Embassy has joined a long list of individuals and organizations in pledging support for their local hero and 24-time Grand Slam champion, Novak Djokovic. The embassy has backed the reigning Olympic champion for his stance against Channel 9 and, in particular, their presenter, Tony Jones.
Following Jones’ inappropriate remarks about Djokovic and the Serbian tennis community, the Serbian Embassy believes the Channel 9 presenter should face sanctions. They also challenged Tennis Australia to find any instance where an Australian was humiliated in the same manner in Serbia.
The situation began in the first few days of the Australian Open when Jones referred to Djokovic with several inappropriate names on air. In response, the former World No. 1 refused to take an on-court interview with Jim Courier, who is also a presenter for Channel 9.
The tennis community initially believed Djokovic’s refusal was aimed at the fans who were booing him during the match. However, Djokovic clarified that his decision was primarily directed at Jones, who had insulted him and the Serbian fans at the Australian Open.
Novak Djokovic will face Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Tuesday, renewing their rivalry. This match is seen as a battle between two generations of tennis stars.
Djokovic, widely considered the greatest player of all time, is chasing his 25th Grand Slam title. Meanwhile, 21-year-old Alcaraz is leading the next wave of tennis stars, with a growing list of major titles already under his belt.
Alcaraz has already won Wimbledon twice, as well as the French Open and US Open. The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam missing from his collection, and he is aiming to complete his career Grand Slam this year.
If Alcaraz wins in Melbourne, he would become the youngest player in history to achieve the feat. The two players have already had memorable battles, with Alcaraz defeating Djokovic in a thrilling Wimbledon final in 2023, while Djokovic won their most recent encounter at Roland Garros.
