Serbian Davis Cup group captain Viktor Troicki says Tony Jones’ feedback about Novak Djokovic had been pure mockery and he’s calling on these in cost to by no means once more enable the broadcaster to cowl the Australian Open or tennis.
If you happen to watched the Serb’s third-round match in opposition to Tomas Machac, you in all probability keep in mind the previous world No. 1 rejecting to conduct a conventional on-court interview.
Later, the document 24-time Grand Slam champion mentioned he was protesting in opposition to Channel 9’s Jones over “making a mockery of me and my fans.”
Novak Djokovic© Australian Open/YouTube
Just a few days earlier, the 69-year-old was standing in entrance of a bunch of Serbian supporters when he referred to as Djokovic “overrated” on air and mentioned that “Novak is a has-been.”
After the incident, Jones apologized and insisted it was all a joke and Tennis Australia mentioned in an announcement that their document 10-time champion accepted the apology.
Nevertheless, Troicki – who received the Davis Cup and the United Cup along with Djokovic – thinks what the host did was so unhealthy that the one correct punishment isn’t once more permitting the host to work at Melbourne Park.
Troicki rips Jones: To mock an athlete in the course of the event is unacceptable
“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,” the previous world No. 12 instructed Bolavip.
“I believe they’re treating Novak worse and worse. It’s stunning and disappointing to see the best participant of all time experiencing so many unhealthy issues taking place in Australia once more. After Covid and what they did to him just a few years in the past, it has by no means been the identical.
“To mock an athlete in the course of the event is unacceptable. I don´t assume an apology is sufficient. I believe he ought to be banned for all times from masking tennis.”
In the meantime, Djokovic returned to giving on-court interviews after beating Carlos Alcaraz within the Australian Open quarterfinal.
