In an unusual turn of events at the Rod Laver Arena, Novak Djokovic refused to conduct a full on-court interview with commentator Jim Courier following his dominant fourth-round victory over Jiri Lehecka, which he sealed 6-3, 6-3, 7-6(4). While Djokovic’s performance on the court was stellar, his decision to forgo the traditional interview has left fans speculating about the reasons behind this surprising move. Many wondered if it stemmed from dissatisfaction with the crowd, Jim Courier, or something else entirely. Some fans even suggested it might be related to previous comments made by Australian journalist Tony Jones.
Djokovic addressed the matter during the post-match press conference, offering a clear explanation. “I’d like to just clarify the reason why it was not conducted on the court. A couple of days ago, a famous sports journalist who works for the official broadcaster Nine here in Australia made a mockery of Serbian fans and also made insulting and offensive comments towards me. Since then, he has chosen not to issue any public apology, nor has Nine,” Djokovic stated.
As a result, Djokovic decided not to give interviews to Channel Nine, though he emphasized he had no personal issues with Jim Courier or the Australian public. He expressed regret that the on-court setting wasn’t the right time to explain his stance and left it to Channel Nine to handle the situation appropriately.
Novak Djokovic on snubbing on-court interview: “I’d like to just clarify the reason why it ws not conducted on the court … a couple of days ago the famous sports journalist who works for official broadcaster Nine here in Austraia made a mockery of Serbian fans and also made…
— Max Laughton (@maxlaughton) January 19, 2025
The controversy stems from comments Tony Jones made during a segment on Nine News. While covering Serbian fans celebrating Djokovic, Jones made disparaging remarks, mocking their enthusiasm. In the broadcast, Jones said, “Novak, he’s overrated! Novak’s a has-been! Novak, kick him out! Boy, I’m glad they can’t hear me.” These remarks sparked a wave of backlash from fans and tennis experts alike, with many criticizing Jones for his comments.
Australian tennis legend Paul McNamee was among those who voiced disappointment, tweeting, “Tony, I’m surprised, especially as you work for the host broadcaster, that you would send up a bunch of Aussies (with European heritage) having a good time celebrating their 10-time AO champion… trying to be funny mate?” Even Nick Kyrgios weighed in, calling Jones a “clown.”
Despite the uproar, Jim Courier, who conducted Djokovic’s brief post-match interaction, said he wasn’t aware of Djokovic’s reasons at the time. Speaking to Eurosport, Courier commented, “He just didn’t feel like having a chat. I had no idea that was going to happen, but there is no obligation for these players to do that. It’s an opportunity for them to talk to people in the stadium and the fans around the world. But a player can opt out.”
Although Djokovic declined the interview, he still stayed on the court to sign autographs, showcasing his ongoing connection with fans. However, Djokovic acknowledged the potential consequences of his decision. During the press conference, he revealed that he informed Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley of his stance. “I just wanted to make sure that he knows where I stand and the reasons behind it. So I told him: ‘If you guys want to fine me for not giving an on-court interview, that’s OK.’ I’ll accept that because I feel like this is something that needs to be done.”
Looking ahead, Djokovic’s next challenge is a quarterfinal clash against world number 3 Carlos Alcaraz. Djokovic leads their head-to-head record 4-3 and will aim to extend that lead as he moves closer to a potential 11th Australian Open title.