- Nick Kyrgios takes a shot at Channel 9 presenter Tony Jones
- Jones has been slammed for making joke on live TV
Aussie firebrand Nick Kyrgios has taken aim at Tony Jones after the veteran presenter taunted Serbian tennis fans and called one of the greatest players of all time is a ‘has-been’.
On Saturday, Jones mocked Novak Djokovic in front of a large crowd of cheering fans who had gathered behind him while he did the sports segment for the afternoon news.
One person who claimed to be part of the group posted online that Nine Network staff had asked them to chant in support of Djokovic whilst, unbeknownst to them, Jones was sledging him live on air, just out of earshot of the crowd.
Jones presented the segment prior to Djokovic’s third round match against Tomas Machac at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena and commented about the audience behind him and how they were cheering for the world number seven.
‘Welcome back to Melbourne Park where you can see the Novak Djokovic fans in full voice … the chants are quite extraordinary,’ he began.
Jones then turned around and gave a chant of his own in opposition.
‘Novak is overrated … Novak’s a has-been … Novak kick him out,’ he said while looking back on the enthusiastic crowd.
‘I am glad that they can’t hear me.’
Lots of tennis fans failed to see the funny side of the incident, and now Kyrgios has added his name to that list.
Kyrgios shared a video of the video clip to his Instagram stories on Sunday, writing: ‘Coming from this clown – couldn’t run around a park this bloke.’
Aussie tennis great Paul McNamee took personal offence to Mr Jones’ offhanded remarks.
‘Tony I’m surprised, especially as you work for the host broadcaster, that you would send up a bunch of Aussies [with European heritage] having 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 anything amusing about it.
‘How can this be on TV. Disrespecting the GOAT, embarrassing,’ he wrote.
While some social media users defended Mr Jones by pointing out that he was simply ‘being sarcastic’ a majority of them did not let him off the hook.
‘The guy with the most slams and most masters and most atp finals and most weeks #1 and most year-end #1s is overrated??’ one wrote.
‘Have to say, this is one of the strangest things Tony Jones has done on camera. I know it’s a ‘joke’, but to have such a lack of respect from the host broadcaster is … slightly questionable,’ another added.
‘What an absolute disgrace from TJ, totally unacceptable to disrespect a champion,’ a third said.
‘This was disgusting. Regardless if you like Novak or not. He is a champion of the game and a 10 time winner of the Australian Open. Show respect to a living great of the game. Tony Jones should give a public apology to Novak and all tennis supporters,’ a fourth wrote.
It’s not the first awkward on-air moment for Jones who was infamously embarrassed twice by footy WAG Bec Judd.
In a clip that went viral in 2013, Jones asked Ms Judd, who was then a Melbourne weather presenter, during a news broadcast if she wanted to attend a barbecue at his place.
‘No thanks,’ she replied.
Three years later in 2016 when Ms Judd was going on maternity leave, Jones tried to give her a peck on the cheek during her farewell show, which she avoided by reeling back.
The clip had a million views on YouTube alone.
‘I’ve put up with that c**p for years, and it’s not my fault!’ Jones told the Footy Show’s panel in 2020.
‘Our news director, Hugh Nailon, here at Channel 9 at Melbourne. He didn’t organise the flowers. I was supposed to present Bec flowers.’
He said he then tried to get out of the presentation but the floor manager for Nine News told him to stay and put on a performance for the broadcast.
He said when he then went to farewell Ms Judd on live television while being empty handed he went in for a kiss to ‘wish her luck’.
