An Australian broadcaster has issued a public apology to Novak Djokovic and his fans following remarks deemed offensive by the Serbian tennis star. The comments, made during a television broadcast on Friday night, prompted Djokovic to forgo the customary on-court interview after his fourth-round win against Jiri Lehecka. Djokovic stated he would only participate in the interview if an apology was made by both the broadcaster and Channel Nine, the Australian Open’s official broadcast partner.
The controversy stemmed from the broadcaster’s remarks, which labeled Djokovic as “overrated” and a “has-been” and included a dismissive reference to Serbian fans gathered outside Channel Nine’s studio at Melbourne Park. One particular comment, “kick him out,” was widely interpreted as alluding to Djokovic’s deportation from Australia in 2022 due to his COVID-19 vaccination status.
The broadcaster explained that the comments were intended as lighthearted banter but acknowledged they were taken offensively. He stated that he made a private apology to Djokovic’s team immediately upon realizing the remarks had caused offense. However, he publicly admitted that the “kick him out” remark was especially regrettable, recognizing how it could be seen as inappropriate.
Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion and a ten-time Australian Open winner, has yet to issue a public response. He is set to face world number three Carlos Alcaraz in the tournament’s quarter-finals on Tuesday.