Tennis courts and drama? A tale as old as time! With the Australian Open in full swing, fans have been treated to thrilling matches and unforgettable moments. But let’s be honest—what’s a Grand Slam without its fair share of controversies? This time, though, it’s not about a player smashing a racquet or a heated courtside exchange. Instead, the spotlight is on an unexpected source: a commentator. Yep, Australian broadcaster Tony Jones has found himself at the center of a fiery backlash, all thanks to a remark he made about none other than Novak Djokovic.

Jones appeared on the Nine News channel and covered the enthusiasm of fans cheering for Djokovic. In the video which is now making rounds on social media, a flood of Serbian Maestro’s fans can be seen cheering with Serbian flags in their hands. But what caught the attention was the gesture that followed from Jones. Looking at the crowd, he jeered at them and said, “Novak is overrated.” Continuing further, he also expressed his satisfaction over the inability of the crowd to hear him given the barrier in place. However, this did not sit well with the fans. 

Taking to X, a user shared the clip of the entire episode and wrote, “I’m sure TJ would never ever have said this about Fed or Nadal. Very ugly hey @DjokerNole Unprofessional @9NewsMelb.” As soon as this post gained traction, a massive influx of responses began in the comment section with fans sharing their take. 

Several fans joined the fray and took sharp digs at the broadcaster. They accused him of disrespecting one of the greatest tennis players and expressed their disappointment. In fact, some even called his behavior unprofessional, and the series of backlashes continued. 

Tony Jones in hot waters over his remark on Novak Djokovic

Taking to X, a user wrote, “…whatever that was: trolling the fans, annoyed at the fans, joking with the fans, etc I think it missed the mark and was in poor taste, lacking respect.” Novak Djokovic has established himself as an icon of the sport. With 24 Grand Slams under his arsenal, Nole holds the record for the most number of Grand Slams. Besides, he also bagged the Olympic Gold last year and continued to prove his mettle despite being 37 years of age. Hence, calling him underrated was not seen as something appropriate by the fans as more people joined the fray. 

Responding to the post, another user commented, “I can tell you who is overrated!” Notably, this is not the first time that Jones has come under the spotlight at the ongoing Australian Open. After Danielle Collins’ feud with the Aussie crowd on Thursday, he took a dig at the player and called her a “brat.” “My view is she’s a brat,” he told 3AW Drive on Friday. “When you get people like Danielle Collins who lives this (lavish) lifestyle and then rubs our noses in it…I thought it overstepped the mark.” This did not go well with Collins, who took to her Instagram and wrote, “I love when these old dudes like Tony know the vibe.” Meanwhile, several others joined the fray.

“So unprofessional and disrespectful! Who is he to treat like this a true legend of a sport and an inspiration to so many around the world!  Beyond pathetic,” wrote another user. Djokovic has been regarded as an inspiration for many. In fact, he has received widespread appreciation for his skills from the likes of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. Interestingly, when Matt Wilander praised him in an earlier interview, he said that Nole, “is the winningest male tennis player ever.” Hence, for a player of his stature, who is playing incredibly despite being not a young gun anymore, receiving negative remarks is irking the fans. 

One more user joined the conversation and wrote, “What a disgraceful thing to say!” But Djokovic knows how to clap back at naysayers. During Wimbledon last year, the Serb engaged in a tussle with the crowd. He perceived the cheer for his opponent, Holger Rune as boos against him. Later, he booed back at the crowd and said, “goooooood night,” which had led to a significant debate within the tennis arena. Now, with Jones trolling the star player, Djokovic’s response might soon be witnessed. 

Yet another user expressed disappointment over Jones’ remarks and wrote, “WTF is this! This is disgrace….” Now, as a new drama has got the tennis world buzzing, it will be interesting to see if Djokovic comes out and responds to this. Will this new debate end anytime soon? That remains to be seen.