An Australian sports broadcaster has publicly apologized to tennis star Novak Djokovic after making controversial remarks during a live broadcast of the Australian Open. Tony Jones, a well-known presenter on Channel 9, initially dismissed his comments as “banter” but later acknowledged they caused offense. During a segment last Friday, Jones taunted Djokovic’s fans, chanting, “Novak, he’s overrated, Novak’s a has-been, Novak, kick him out.” He added, “Boy, I’m glad they can’t hear me.” The remarks didn’t sit well with Djokovic, who skipped a post-match interview after his fourth-round victory, citing the incident as the reason. In a video shared on social media, Djokovic expressed disappointment, saying he had hoped for a public apology. “A few days ago, a famous sports journalist here from Australia decided to mock Serbian fans and made insulting comments towards me,” he said. “I was hoping he would apologize, but he hasn’t yet.” On Monday, Jones addressed the backlash during an appearance on Channel 9’s *Today* program. He explained that his comments were meant as humor but admitted they “overstepped the mark.” Jones also apologized directly to Djokovic and his fans, saying, “I genuinely feel for those fans. I didn’t mean to cause any disrespect.” The broadcaster’s network, Nine, also issued a statement, apologizing for “any offense caused” and emphasizing that no harm was intended. Djokovic has since accepted the apology and is focusing on his upcoming match against Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals. The incident has sparked broader conversations about respect in sports commentary. Even Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese weighed in, calling for “more kindness and generosity” in public discourse. As Djokovic prepares for his next match, all eyes are on whether he can secure his 25th Grand Slam title, potentially surpassing Margaret Court’s record. Meanwhile, Jones hopes to move past the controversy and refocus on the tournament. “The priority now is the tennis,” he said.