Serbia’s Davis Cup team captain believes the journalist who made controversial remarks towards Novak Djokovic during this year’s Australian Open should be banned from covering the sport.
Viktor Toricki has blasted remarks made by Tony Jones who works for channel 9 which is the host broadcaster of the Grand Slam. During a TV segment, Jones was speaking to the camera with a group of Serbian fans chanting in the background. He then made a couple of jibes towards the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
“Welcome back to Melbourne Park where you can see the Novak Djokovic fans in full voice … the chants are quite extraordinary,” Jones said.
“Novak is overrated … Novak’s a has-been … Novak kick him out,” he then sang back to the fans before adding, “I am glad that they can’t hear me.”
Following the incident, Djokovic boycotted an on-court post-match interview with Channel 9. He accused Jones of making a ‘mockery of Serbian fans’ and saying ‘insulting and offensive comments’ towards him. The broadcaster initially issued a statement to Sport Klub apologizing for his actions before issuing a direct apology to Djokovic.
“There was the situation around channel nine, which I noticed as well. If I had hired that journalist (Tony Jones, ed.), I would have fired him straight away. He would never work in sports again,” Troicki told Bolavip.
“I think they are treating Novak worse and worse. It is surprising and disappointing to see the greatest player of all time experiencing so many bad things happening in Australia again. After Covid and what they did to him a few years ago, it has never been the same.”
Toricki believes a stricter penalty should have been implemented on Jones. The 38-year-old is a former top 20 player who won three ATP titles during his career.
“To mock an athlete during the tournament is unacceptable. I don´t think an apology is enough. I think he should be banned for life from covering tennis,” he said.
Serbia will play Denmark in the Davis Cup this weekend. Djokovic is unable to play in the tie due to a knee injury which forced him to retire from his semi-final match against Alexander Zverev at the Australian Open earlier this month.