A veteran Channel 9 presenter has been labeled a “disgrace” after chanting to tennis fans while doing a live crossover from the Australian Open that one of the greatest players of all time is an “ex”.
Channel 9 sports journalist Tony Jones mocked Novak Djokovic in front of a large crowd of fans who had gathered behind him while doing the sports segment for the evening news.
A person claiming to be part of the group posted online that Nine Network staff had asked them to sing in support of Djokovic while, unbeknownst to them, Jones was carrying him live, out of earshot of the group. crew.
Jones introduced the segment leading up to Djokovic's third-round match against Tomas Machac at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena and commented on the crowd behind him and how they were cheering on the world number seven.
“Welcome back to Melbourne Park, where you can see Novak Djokovic fans in full voice… the chants are quite extraordinary,” he began.
Jones then turned around and launched his own chant in opposition.
“Novak is overrated… Novak is a former… Novak kicked him out,” he said while looking at the enthusiastic crowd.
“I'm glad you can't hear me.”
Vetern Channel 9 news anchor Tony Jones (pictured) has come under fire after mocking Novak Djokovic in front of legions of the player's fans on Friday.
Jones hosted a segment before Djokovic's third-round match when he called the record-breaking player a “has-been” who should retire.
A woman who claimed to be part of the crowd said Nine had asked them to sing and then “mocked” them on air.
Following his antics, Mr. Jones continued reading the tournament news before signing off and joking that he'd better “get out of here.”
“This concludes from Melbourne Park and somehow, I'm going to have to get out of here… no, we're fine, we took selfies and I told them it was Clint Stanaway,” he said.
Before Djokovic's fans had any idea what the sports journalist had said in their live crossover, host Tom Steinfort pointed out that his colleague might have become even more unpopular than American player Danielle Collins.
Collins has been a divisive figure at the tournament after earlier in the week gesturing to the crowd after her close but victorious match against Australia's Destanee Aiava to “shut up” and kiss her ass.
“I didn't think anyone would be more unpopular than Danielle Collins after last night's antics, but Tony, well done, you take the cake.” said.
Once the segment aired, furious fans were quick to jump on social media to criticize Mr. Jones' “disrespect.”
“I'm sure TJ would never have said this about Fed or Nadal,” one fan tweeted.
'…whatever it was: trolling fans, annoying fans, pranking fans, etc. I think it failed and it was in bad taste, disrespectful.'
More people, including other sports stars, also criticized live cross country.
Jones caused a wave of fury online among tennis fans who said he had “disrespected” the tennis great.
Host Tom Steinfort said his colleague may have become more unpopular than tennis star Danielle Collins, who mocked her own crowd on Thursday.
Australian tennis great Paul McNamee took personal offense at Mr Jones' offhand comments.
“Tony, I'm surprised, especially since you work for the host station, that you'd send a bunch of Australians (of European descent) to have a good time celebrating their 10-time AO champion…trying to be funny mate “Mr. McNamee wrote.
AFL star Jack Ginnivan, who plays for Hawthorn, also failed to see the funny side.
'How can this be on television? Disrespecting the GOAT is shameful,' he wrote.
While some social media users defended Mr. Jones by pointing out that he was simply “being sarcastic,” most of them did not let him off the hook.
'Is the guy with the most Slams and the most Masters and the most ATP finals and the most #1 weeks and the most #1 year-end weeks overrated?' one wrote.
“I have to say, this is one of the strangest things Tony Jones has ever done on camera. I know it's a 'joke,' but to have such disrespect from the host station is… a little questionable,” added another.
“What an absolute disgrace on TJ's part, totally unacceptable to disrespect a champion,” said a third.
'This was disgusting. Regardless of whether you like Novak or not. He is a champion of the game and a ten-time winner of the Australian Open. Show respect to a living great player of the game. “Tony Jones should offer a public apology to Novak and all tennis fans,” wrote a fourth.