Tony Jones is DROPPED for Channel Nine's Wimbledon coverage after offending Novak Djokovic with wild comments at the Australian Open
Veteran Channel Nine sports anchor Tony Jones will not be part of the network's Wimbledon coverage this year after being involved in a controversy with Novak Djokovic during the Australian Open.
Jones has been a longtime Wimbledon presenter for the broadcaster, but he will be watching the British grand slam from Melbourne this year.
Nine will be using its London bureau during the tournament and will be flying local experts Todd Woodbridge, Alicia Molik, Sam McClure and Jelena Dokic over for commentary.
Jones sparked controversy in January during a broadcast of the Australian Open when he made remarks about Djokovic and his Serbian fans, including the phrase 'kick him out,' which many interpreted as referencing Djokovic's 2021 deportation from Australia.
'Novak's overrated. Novak's a has-been. Novak, kick him out... Boy, I'm glad they can't hear me,' he said.
Djokovic called the comments disrespectful and later boycotted a courtside interview with the broadcaster until he received a public apology from Jones.
'If I could turn back time, right, and I know we've all got PhDs in hindsight, I think the one thing where I overstepped the mark, and this is certainly what's really sort of angered Novak Djokovic and his camp, is the last comment I made in that back and forth with the crowd — 'kick him out',' Jones said on Nine.
'Now, I can stand here and put whatever spin on that, but it can only be interpreted as a throwback to the COVID years when he [Djokovic] was kicked out [over his vaccination status].
'Now, that has angered Novak, which I completely understand now. So look, it has been an unfortunate situation. It's been one of personal angst for Novak.
'It's quite clearly personal angst for me as well. But I just think the priority here now is to focus on the tennis again.'
Nine also issued an apology over the incident: 'Nine would like to apologise to Novak Djokovic for any offence caused from comments made during a recent live cross. No harm was intended towards Novak or his fans.'
Serbia's ambassador to Australia, Rade Stefanovic, also expressed his 'profound concern' to Channel Nine at the time.
In a statement, the ambassador said: 'The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia considers Mr Jones' comments [to be] totally inappropriate and disrespectful.
'Never has an Australian athlete been insulted and disrespected in such a way by the media or any public official in Serbia.'
The tournament is set to start later this week, with the Serb superstar looking to match Roger Federer's record of eight titles at the event.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
16 minutes ago
- BBC News
The Stevenage tennis player who is Taiwan's No.1
As the build-up to Wimbledon intensifies, inevitably a lot of the focus will fall on British Garland could have been one of the 23-year-old from Stevenage has chosen to play for Taiwan and is now the country's number one female tennis family moved there during her childhood before returning to Hertfordshire, and her mother is from the east Asian is no surprise then that Garland feels "a very strong connection" to Taiwan, a country that has supported her throughout her career."There was a period when I was questioning it," she told BBC Look East. "I was getting close to Grand Slam qualifiers, a potential wildcard for Wimbledon and I was torn about what to do."I saw Emma Raducanu, Katie Boulter and Sonay Kartal going to Wimbledon as British players thinking it doesn't get any better. So, I was questioning it."But playing for Taiwan is why I have had success. It was my childhood and some of the most important years of my life were in Taiwan. "I have a strong connection to the people, the coaches, and they were a big part of my life. I owe it to them." Sharing with cockroaches and mosquitos Garland was first taught tennis by her father John - who is a professional coach - when she was four years old. She reached a career high of 14 as a junior and turned professional in she was 14, she has been travelling to tournaments by herself, booking flights and organising her own schedule."I'm quite good at organising myself," she said."My mum, dad and grandmother have been so supportive. They never said no to anything that could have helped me – such as playing a tournament in Malaysia on my own. They backed me but they don't come and watch."It means that life on tour can get "very lonely" and accommodation as players aim to climb the rankings can be far from glamourous."You don't get picked up from the airport, free meals, or five-star hotels," Garland added. "The practice balls are dog balls. You question if you are capable. "I remember some of the dorms I stayed in, there was cockroaches and mosquitos, I don't think I slept."Anyone who's played tennis would have been there to try to win their first ranking points. These are the experiences that make this journey." Making her Grand Slam debut Garland's early years on tour have been beset by injuries, with her ranking falling to 551 at the end of last 2025 has been her best year yet. Her Women's Tennis Association (WTA) ranking has risen to 144, external thanks to winning four International Tennis Federation (ITF) W35 tournaments, external in Kenya and is coached full time in the Netherlands by Tim de Rooij and qualified for her first Grand Slam at the French Open last month, winning her first-round match against Katie Volynets from the United States."I got a horrendous cold after qualifying at the French Open," said Garland."I was in bed for three days. I didn't practice and I got no sleep. I was 3-0 down in the third set and somehow I won it 6-4. I just thought 'how on earth have I pulled this off?'."Her phone was inundated with messages from Taiwan."It was pretty overwhelming," she added. "I called my mum to tell her and she said her phone had gone mad too."Garland was beaten by 32nd seed Julia Putintseva in round two but then backed up her run at Roland Garros by qualifying for her first WTA tournament at s'Hertogenbosch, in the Netherlands, losing to Canada's Bianca Andreescu in the first now prepares to qualify for Wimbledon this week for the first time."I am in a good place and quite excited about the next few weeks," she said."I am nervous. There's pressure because of Roland Garros but if I can play my best tennis, I do think I can do it. Reaching Wimbledon would be something else."
BBC News
16 minutes ago
- BBC News
Wrexham interested in Wales forward Lawrence - Monday's gossip
Wrexham are being linked with Wales and former Rangers striker Tom Lawrence in Monday's Wrexham-born forward is a free agent after his contract with the Scottish club expired at the end of last County - who missed out on joining Wrexham in the Championship after losing to Leyton Orient in the play-off semi-final - are also said to be interested in the 31-year-old.A Manchester United academy product, Lawrence made one first team appearance at Old Trafford at the start of a career that has seen him play for Leicester, Rotherham, Cardiff, Ipswich and scoring 37 goals in a five-year spell at Derby County he joined Rangers in 2022, scoring 11 goals in 65 was included in Wales' squad for World Cup qualifiers in March this year, though his most recent and 23rd cap for Wales was in March this month Wrexham signed ex-Rangers striker Ryan Hardie from Plymouth Argyle adding to their attacking options which includes January signings Sam Smith and Jay former Scotland international Steven Fletcher was released following their promotion from League One last season, but the squad also includes the likes of Jack Marriott, Ollie Palmer and Paul Mullin who has been urged to stay and fight to regain his place in Phil Parkinson's line-up.
BBC News
37 minutes ago
- BBC News
Reading Football Club honours its biscuit heritage with new kit
Reading Football Club has paid homage to the town's industrial heritage and unique link to biscuits with its new football Royals 2025- 2026 home kit features a white base with the club's signature hoops reimagined to match the decorative Huntley & Palmers biscuit tins once made in the town and found in homes kit, which is manufactured by Macron, has also been made from eco fabrics and costs £58.A club spokesperson said: "It's a look that proudly reconnects us with our origins, after a time when remembering who we are has felt more important than ever." For more than 150 years, Huntley & Palmers sold thousands of biscuits across the 1900, the company's products were sold in 172 countries and Reading became synonymous with biscuits and the football club became affectionately known as "The Biscuitmen".The football club's nickname changed to "The Royals" once the factory closed. The team have had some unique designs over the years, including the University of Reading's "climate stripes" in 2022/23 and one that featured landmarks around the fans have not been impressed by the move away from the traditional home kits of the past 50 fan wrote on social media: "It looks like my nan's china cups."While another said: "It gives special dinner plate vibes at your grandparents' house."One positive fan said: "I like it! Huntley & Palmers are iconic in Reading and great to remember where we come from. Rather than a dull blue hoop around the shirts."The club are expected to release further kits nearer to the start of the season, with League One fixtures revealed next Thursday at 12:00 BST. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
