However, Channel 9 commentator and Aussie tennis great Wally Masur has found himself in the midst of fury after a throwaway comment angered supporters during the first round triumph. The 1987 Australian Open semi-finalist joked that the only way that the Spanish tennis player could stun the former world number one would be if the Serbian suffered an injury to himself. He said: “I think that’s Pedro’s biggest chance if Novak just tears an adductor on one of those slides. It might be just what he needs.”
Nova TV, a media organisation from Serbia, were left stunned by the comments. They said: “A shameful comment about Djokovic in a live feed. Is it possible that a commentator is saying this?” While Mondo reported the incident as « a famous tennis player’s live feed scandal » and another outlet said the controversy was « catastrophic ».
Responding to a group of fans who had congregated by the broadcaster’s tent, Jones said: « Novak is overrated, Novak’s a has-been, Novak kick him out ». But he was later forced to apologise.
« I can stand by that apology to Novak, » he said. « I should also say the disrespect was extended, in many ways, to the Serbian fans.
« We have built up a nice rapport with the Serbian fans, and there was banter, and I thought what I was doing was an extension of that banter. Quite clearly that has not been interpreted that way.
« I feel as though I’ve let down the Serbian fans. That has angered Novak which I completely understand now. It has been an unfortunate situation, it has been one of personal angst for Novak, it’s quite clearly personal angst for me as well. »
Djokovic has yet to acknowledge the comment but will return to the Rod Laver Arena to take on 23-year-old Italian Francesco Maestrelli in the second round on Thursday.
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