Novak Djokovic Slams Australian Open Broadcaster For "Insulting Comments", Refuses Post-Match Interview

Novak Djokovic has addressed his refusal to give the customary post-match interview following his Round of 16 win at the Australian Open 2025. The 10-time champion defeated Czech Republic's Jiri Lehecka in straight sets (6-3, 6-4, 7-6), securing a spot in the quarterfinals where he will face third seed Carlos Alcaraz.

Accusations Against Channel 9 Broadcaster

Taking to social media to clear the air, Djokovic accused a "famous sports journalist" from Channel 9, the official broadcaster of the Australian Open, of making derogatory remarks about him and Serbian fans during a live broadcast. The Serbian tennis star made it clear that he would continue to avoid speaking with Channel 9 until both the journalist and the channel issued a public apology.

"A journalist who works for Channel 9 in Australia made a mockery of Serbian fans and made insulting and offensive comments towards me," Djokovic said in a video message posted on X (formerly Twitter). "Since then, he has chosen not to issue any public apology. Neither has Channel 9. So, since they are official broadcasters, I chose not to give interviews for Channel 9."

Apology to Jim Courier

While clarifying his stance, Djokovic also apologized to Jim Courier, the American tennis legend who was scheduled to conduct the interview on behalf of Channel 9. He described the situation as "awkward" but emphasized that he had no issues with Courier or the Australian public.

"I have nothing against Jim Courier or the Australian public. It was a very awkward situation for me to face on the court today. It is unfortunate I chose to say something to the crowd, but obviously there wasn't the time and space or situation for me to explain what I'm doing right now," Djokovic explained. "I leave it to Channel 9 to handle this the way they think they see fit. That's all."

Historic Milestones and Future Goals

Despite the off-court controversy, Djokovic's performance on the court remains strong. The Serbian star took 2 hours and 39 minutes to seal his victory over Lehecka, advancing to his 15th men's singles quarterfinal at the Australian Open, tying Swiss legend Roger Federer's record. Djokovic is also aiming for a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title, with the ultimate goal of becoming the oldest player in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam. The current record is held by Ken Rosewall, who won the 1972 Australian Open at the age of 37 years and 62 days. Djokovic, at 37 years and 249 days old, has a chance to break this record by the end of the tournament.