By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Photograph credit score: Matthew Calvis
The Completely happy Slam feels a bit like a Mockery Main for Ben Shelton.
The 22-year-old Shelton stopped Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(4) to cost into the Australian Open semifinals.
Extra: Sinner and Cahill to Half After 2025
On the finish of his post-match presser, Shelton known as out AO host broadcaster Channel 9 for what he believes is disrespect of gamers on air and in on-court interviews.
The Twenty first-seeded Shelton stated he is “been somewhat bit shocked” by a stage of disdain he believes some interviewers have exhibited to some gamers and blasted that protection as “embarrassing.”
“I have been somewhat bit shocked this week with how gamers have been handled by the broadcasters,” Shelton informed the media in Melbourne. “I do not suppose that the man who mocked Novak, I do not suppose that was only a single occasion.
“I’ve seen it with completely different individuals, not simply myself. I seen it with Learner Tien in one in every of his matches. I believe when he beat Medvedev his post-match interview, I believed it was form of embarrassing and disrespectful that interview.”
Following his fourth-round win over Jiri Lehecka, Djokovic spoke briefly to the gang, however declined the obligatory on-court interview resulting from what he known as “insulting” feedback from Channel 9 host Tony Jones.
In his post-match presser afterward, the 37-year-old Serbian celebrity stated he blew off the on-court interview in protest of Channel 9 host Tony Jones mocking Serbian followers and insulting Djokovic himself as a “failure” and “overrated.”
Novak Djokovic defined in his press convention that he didn’t wish to speak to host broadcaster Channel 9, most likely due to what occurred right here two days in the past. pic.twitter.com/YxZFu7MX9R
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) January 19, 2025
Jones’ feedback have been televised by host broadcaster Channel 9 whereas Serbian followers celebrated a Djokovic victory chanting “Nole! Nole!” whereas waving Serbian flags. Jones, apparently aggravated by the chanting Djokovic followers, mocked the gang in a sing-song voice mimicking Serbian followers however saying “Novak, he is overrated….Novak, he is a has-been.”
An offended Djokovic known as out Jones for making “a mockery fo Serbian followers” and for “insulting and offensive feedback in direction of me.”
“Couple days in the past the well-known sports activities journalist who works for official broadcaster, Channel 9 right here in Australia, made a mockery of Serbian followers and likewise made insulting and offensive feedback in direction of me,” Djokovic informed the media in Melbourne. “And since then, he selected to not concern any public apology. Neither did Channel 9. So since they’re official broadcasters, I selected to not give interviews for Channel 9.
“I’ve nothing in opposition to Jim Courier or neither the Australian public. It was a really awkward state of affairs for me to face on the court docket in the present day.
In the end, Jones issued an apology to Djokovic and the Grand Slam king gave an in depth on-court interview following his epic quarterfinal conquest of Carlos Alcaraz.
Pointing to Jones’ ridicule of Djokovic, questions 19-year-old American Learner Tien confronted following his upset of three-time finalist Daniil Medvedev and an interviewer jokingly asking if Gael Monfils was his father, Shelton stated some questioners have crossed the road into virtually intentionally antagonistic territory throughout this 2025 AO.
“There are some feedback which have been made to me in post-match interviews by a few completely different guys, whether or not it was, Hey, Monfils is sufficiently old to be your dad. Possibly he’s your dad,” stated Shelton, whose father, Bryan Shelton, is a former ATP professional, a two-time Newport champion and serves as his son’s coach. “Or in the present day on the court docket, Hey, Ben, how does it really feel that irrespective of who you play in your subsequent match, nobody goes to be cheering for you?
“I imply, could also be true, however I simply do not suppose the remark is respectful from a man I’ve by no means met earlier than in my life.”
For years, gamers have endured some vicious insults, private assaults, and, in excessive instances, even threats from disgruntled loser gamblers or misanthropic social media trolls in social media posts.
In current months, extra gamers have spoken out in opposition to essential stream media and host broadcasters after they’ve felt commentators crossed the road into outright ridicule.
Wimbledon winner Barbora Krejcikova publicly criticized Tennis Channel’s Jon Wertheim after his mocking brow feedback throughout what he thought was a rehearsal made it to air and have been posted on social media.
In that case, TC suspended Wertheim till the tip of the yr although some followers and commentators really criticized each Krejickova, for calling out the mockery, and different media members for protecting the controversy claiming execs ought to develop thicker skins, settle for criticism as a part of their jobs and recover from it.
Some gamers say some Channel 9 commentators are making mocking and derisive feedback then claiming they’re merely being “cheeky” or “snarky” to defuse backlash.
Shelton says there is a massive distinction between criticism of a participant efficiency and a private assault.
Shelton, who drew criticism from some commentators, followers and fellow gamers, together with Djokovic, for his well-known “dangle up” gesture throughout his impressed run to the 2023 US Open semifinals, stated if we’re taking part in on the Completely happy Slam, why a lot negativity from the host broadcaster?
Moreover, Shelton suggests if you cannot belief the host broadcaster investing tens of millions of {dollars} to televise the Australian Open to respect the gamers and by extension, the game, then what does that say in regards to the state of tennis promotion?
“I really feel like broadcasters must be serving to us develop our sport and assist these athletes who simply received matches on the most important stage take pleasure in one in every of their greatest moments,” Shelton stated. “I really feel like there’s simply been loads of negativity. I believe that is one thing that should change.”
#Shocked #Disrespect #Broadcasters