In the high-stakes world of professional tennis, every serve, every swing—and apparently, every word—can have dramatic consequences. That truth hit hard for 63-year-old Australian TV presenter Tony Jones, who has just been axed from Channel Nine’s Wimbledon 2025 coverage following controversial remarks about Novak Djokovic that stirred outrage earlier this year.
Jones, a longtime face of Australian sports broadcasting, found himself in hot water during the Australian Open in January after a now-infamous live segment targeting the Serbian tennis superstar. While surrounded by Djokovic fans chanting support, Jones mockingly joined in, sarcastically chanting, “Novak, he’s overrated… Novak’s a has-been… Novak, kick him out.” At the time, it may have seemed like cheeky banter to the Channel Nine crew, but the global tennis community—and Djokovic himself—saw it very differently.
The comments, which alluded to Djokovic’s 2022 deportation over his COVID-19 vaccine status, were quickly branded disrespectful and offensive. Djokovic, typically composed in media situations, broke protocol and refused a traditional post-match on-court interview with the network, citing Jones’s “insulting” behavior and the lack of an immediate apology from either the presenter or Channel Nine.
While Jones eventually apologized on-air—acknowledging that he had “overstepped the mark” and “intended no harm”—the damage had already been done. Though he claimed to have apologized privately to Djokovic’s team before going public, the delay in acknowledging the backlash only intensified calls for accountability. Channel Nine followed up with a statement of regret, but it did little to quell the growing firestorm.
Now, as Wimbledon kicks off, Jones is notably absent from Channel Nine’s coverage roster—a conspicuous omission that industry insiders say is no coincidence. While the network hasn’t issued an official reason for his exclusion, the timing speaks volumes. In his place, familiar faces like Todd Woodbridge, Alicia Molik, Jelena Dokic, and Sam McClure are set to lead the network’s UK-based coverage, while Jones remains back in Melbourne, sidelined from one of the sport’s biggest stages.
The decision has ignited debate across the tennis world and online forums alike. Fans on Reddit and Twitter were quick to slam Jones for unprofessionalism, with some accusing him of veiled nationalism and disrespect toward Djokovic’s Serbian heritage. High-profile figures like Elon Musk, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and tennis legends including Victoria Azarenka and Boris Becker publicly backed Djokovic’s response, reinforcing that Jones’s comments weren’t just in poor taste—they crossed a line.
For Jones, who has built a decades-long career on quick wit and sports savvy, the fallout is a humbling reminder that in today’s global media landscape, “banter” can quickly become backlash. And in the world of Grand Slam tennis, respect is not just reserved for the court—it’s expected from the commentary box too.
As Wimbledon unfolds without him, Tony Jones may now be learning the hardest lesson in broadcasting: some lines, once crossed, don’t lead to the next match—they lead straight to the exit.