Patrick McEnroe and Mary Joe Fernandez blast Channel 9 presenter Tony Jones for his ‘idiotic’ comments on Novak Djokovic and Serbia
Channel 9 host Tony Jones offended Novak Djokovic and Serbian fans with the controversial remarks he made during a live broadcast.
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Mary Joe Fernandez, Novak Djokovic, Tony Jones, Patrick McEnroe (Images via X, ESPN)
Former player turned pundits, John McEnroe and Mary Joe Fernandez gave their opinion on the Tony Jones controversy. The Channel 9 broadcaster mocked Novak Djokovic and the Serb latter demanded an apology.
This all started on Friday when Jones turned toward a group of animated Serbian fans at Melbourne Park and chanted ‘Novak is overrated! Novak’s has been! Novak, kick him out!’
The Serbian great, following his fourth-round match against Jiri Lehecka, chose not to give an on-court interview to Channel 9 and later explained in the press conference that Jones made a ‘mockery’ of him and the Serbian fans. McEnroe, the 1989 French Open doubles champion, said Djokovic has every right to take that stand.
All I have to say is good for Novak for speaking up, because that, to me, was just an idiotic statement, idiotic comment by Tony, and Novak has every right to be annoyed. I mean, he could be President of Serbia, they’ve talked about that possibility happening, and it just got even greater okay with the way he handled that.
Patrick McEnroe said on ESPN
Two-time doubles Grand Slam champion Fernandez also agreed and criticized Jones for his comments.
He [Djokovic] was not defending just himself, he was defending his nation. The remarks were done in such poor taste. He [Jones] thought he was making a joke, it was not funny at all!
Mary Joe Fernandez said on ESPN
Patrick McEnroe and Mary Jo Fernandez pile on Tony Jones for his inappropriate comments about Novak Djokovic. P.Mac "it was an idiotic comment" pic.twitter.com/nCtouwQDFX
— asud (@asud683385) January 20, 2025
Jones gave a public apology to Djokovic which, as per Tennis Australia, the 24-time Grand Slam champion has accepted.
Tim Henman excited for Novak Djokovic versus Carlos Alcaraz quarterfinal
Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz will be meeting for the first time Down Under, on Tuesday (January 21) in what will also be their eighth clash. Tim Henman, while giving his opinion on the controversy that sparked due to Tony Jones, said he now only wants to focus on the upcoming match.
It seems slightly bizarre for me to say Djokovic versus Alcaraz in the quarter-final because we have seen it in Grand Slam finals and Olympic finals.
Tim Henman told Eurosport
Alcaraz was defeated in his last encounter against the 37-year-old in the 2024 Paris Olympics. But he had won their clash in the 2024 Wimbledon final in straight sets, which was also a repeat of the result of the 2023 Wimbledon final where the 21-year-old denied Djokovic his Calendar Grand Slam by beating him in five sets.
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