Tony Jones has somewhat contradicted Novak Djokovic's version of events, claiming he contacted the tennis star to apologise - over 24 hours before Djokovic launched his boycott of Channel 9 at the Australian Open.

Novak Djokovic says he will not conduct on-court interviews at the Australian Open until he receives an apology for “insulting and offensive comments” from an Australian television presenter. Channel 9 newsreader Tony Jones was conducting a sport segment from Melbourne Park in front of Serbian fans on Friday,

Marcos Baghdatis labeled Tony Jones' comments about Novak Djokovic as "disrespectful and racist" as the Cypriot tennis legend believes the host deserves to be banned from further covering the Australian Open.

Australian broadcaster Tony Jones has apologised to Novak Djokovic and fans of the Serbian for comments he made on TV on Friday night that the 10-times Australian Open champion considered "insulting and offensive".

Novak Djokovic has declined to do a customary post-match TV interview at the Australian Open to protest comments made on air by someone who works for the official broadcaster of the tournament in the host country,

Novak Djokovic has received the apologies he wanted from the Australian Open’s local broadcaster and its employee who insulted him on the air.

Alex de Minaur is through to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open for the first time, defeating American giant-killer Alex Michelsen.

Novak Djokovic has declined to do a customary post-match TV interview at the Australian Open to protest comments made on air by someone who works for the official broadcaster of the tournament in the host country,

First it was Jones making Djokovic boycott his on-court interview, then American star Ben Shelton blasted the broadcaster over post-match questions - and now Nine has done it again.

Former Florida tennis champion Ben Shelton has taken the tennis world by storm since leaving Gainesville in 2022. He attracted more attention after advancing to semifinals Tuesday.

At some point, sports villains do eventually become fan favorites if they persevere long enough. Fans eventually grow to respect and even adore the person who once bore their ire if they rise above the partisanship of sports fandom to the ethereal place of sports legendry.