MELBOURNE (Reuters) -Australian broadcaster Tony Jones has apologised to Novak Djokovic and fans of the Serbian for comments he made on TV on Friday night that the 10-times Australian Open champion considered "insulting and offensive".

Novak Djokovic has declined to do a customary post-match TV interview at the Australian Open to protest comments made on air by someone who works for the official broadcaster of the tournament in the host country,

The 24-time Grand Slam champion opted out of a traditional on-court interview Sunday following his fourth-round win over Czechia’s Jiri Lehecka at the Australian Open, citing “insulting and offensive comments” made toward him by a presenter for Channel 9, which broadcasts the tournament, days prior.