News | International
19 Feb 2025 14:36
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > International

    Serbian Davis Cup captain Viktor Troicki says Tony Jones should be 'banned for life' from tennis coverage after Novak Djokovic joke

    Serbian Davis Cup captain Viktor Troicki hits out of Australia's treatment of Novak Djokovic and calls for journalist Tony Jones to be banned from tennis for life.


    Serbian Davis Cup captain Viktor Troicki has hit out at Australia's treatment of Novak Djokovic, saying he thought Channel 9 journalist Tony Jones should be banned for life from tennis coverage.

    Djokovic was booed by parts of the crowd after he pulled out of his Australian Open semifinal against Alexander Zverev with an injury.

    While questions were raised about the extent of the injury, Djokovic later posted a scan of his leg online, with medical experts suggesting the MRI showed an injury that required about six weeks of recovery.

    Djokovic was also in the headlines after he refused an on-court interview following his victory over Jirí Lehecka, in protest of a joke that veteran journalist Tony Jones made on the Channel 9 coverage.

    Jones later apologised for the incident.

    Troicki, who retired from professional tennis in 2021, said the treatment Djokovic received throughout the tournament was "disrespectful and disappointing" and he thought Jones should be banned from ever covering tennis again.

    "There was the situation around Channel 9, which I noticed as well. If I had hired that journalist (Tony Jones), I would have fired him straight away. He would never work in sports again," Troicki told sports website Bolavip.

    "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."

    Troicki said he felt Melbourne's attitude to Djokovic had changed after the COVID saga in 2022, where the Serbian champ had been issued a visa to play in the Australian Open despite being unvaccinated, before being stopped at the border, detained, and sent back home.

    Djokovic also claimed he had been 'poisoned' during that trip.

    "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," Troicki said.

    "After COVID and what they did to him a few years ago, it has never been the same."

    Troicki also hit out at the Australian Open crowd, which was criticised throughout the tournament for rowdy and disrespectful behaviour.

    "They were booing him after the injury, which I don't think happens in any sport. Not even in football, where the crowd is normally more wild. When someone gets injured in football, even an opponent, they will applaud you and wish you to get better," he said.

    "That's why it was surprising to see, especially in a place where he has played his best tennis and has won 10 titles, that he got booed after the injury. It was really disrespectful and disappointing.

    "They are booing him in the crowd, which was not happening before in Australia. I think they were admiring his results more and greeting the champion with more respect in the past."

    Serbia is taking on Denmark in the Davis Cup this weekend, with Djokovic on the sidelines.


    ABC




    © 2025 ABC Australian Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved

     Other International News
     19 Feb: A$AP Rocky found not guilty of firing gun at former friend in 2021 Hollywood shooting
     19 Feb: Emma Raducanu in tears early in Dubai loss to Karolína Muchová
     19 Feb: Donald Trump takes aim at Ukraine over war with Russia, dismisses concerns about peace talks
     19 Feb: Video shows moment Delta Air Lines flight crash-lands in Toronto, catches fire and flips onto roof
     19 Feb: ICC Champions Trophy starts in Pakistan, its first global cricket tournament since 2009 terrorist attack on Sri Lankan team
     19 Feb: Bodies of Israeli Bibas family to be released by Hamas
     19 Feb: Donald Trump is testing the limits of his presidential powers, and some people fear a crisis is coming
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Is Michael Cheika about to receive a second chance with the Wallabies? The former coach - who's coming off contract in the English Premiership - has been spotted meeting with Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh in Sydney More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Meridian Energy's reached an agreement to purchase NZ Windfarms Limited More...



     Today's News

    Entertainment:
    Samantha Hanratty found shooting 'Yellowjackets' while pregnant "kind of traumatic" 14:24

    National:
    Why is there so much gold in west Africa? 14:17

    Law and Order:
    A$AP Rocky found not guilty of firing gun at former friend in 2021 Hollywood shooting 14:17

    Business:
    Meridian Energy's reached an agreement to purchase NZ Windfarms Limited 14:07

    Entertainment:
    Jay-Z has blasted the "mental anguish" he experienced after being accused of raping a 13-year-old girl 13:54

    Rugby League:
    South Sydney NRL captain Cameron Murray will miss the majority - if not all - of the upcoming season after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon 13:47

    Politics:
    The Workplace Relations Minister's gone head to head with the country's main union -- over law changes around strikes 13:37

    International:
    Emma Raducanu in tears early in Dubai loss to Karolína Muchová 13:37

    Business:
    House prices are continuing to fall, but some parts of the country keep bucking the trend 13:27

    Entertainment:
    Este Haim has got engaged 13:24


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd