By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Picture credit score: Matthew Calvis
The Pleased 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 referred to 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 mentioned he is “been slightly 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 slightly 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 observed it with completely different individuals, not simply myself. I observed it with Learner Tien in one among his matches. I believe when he beat Medvedev his post-match interview, I assumed it was form of embarrassing and disrespectful that interview.”
Following his fourth-round win over Jiri Lehecka, Djokovic spoke briefly to the group, however declined the obligatory on-court interview as a consequence of what he referred to as “insulting” feedback from Channel 9 host Tony Jones.
In his post-match presser afterward, the 37-year-old Serbian famous person mentioned 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, in all probability 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 irritated by the chanting Djokovic followers, mocked the group in a sing-song voice mimicking Serbian followers however saying “Novak, he is overrated….Novak, he is a has-been.”
An indignant Djokovic referred to 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 towards Jim Courier or neither the Australian public. It was a really awkward state of affairs for me to face on the court docket right this moment.
In the end, Jones issued an apology to Djokovic and the Grand Slam king gave an intensive 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 mentioned some questioners have crossed the road into nearly 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,” mentioned Shelton, whose father, Bryan Shelton, is a former ATP professional, a two-time Newport champion and serves as his son’s coach. “Or right this moment on the court docket, Hey, Ben, how does it really feel that regardless 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 circumstances, even threats from disgruntled loser gamblers or misanthropic social media trolls in social media posts.
In current months, extra gamers have spoken out towards primary stream media and host broadcasters once 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 top of the yr although some followers and commentators truly criticized each Krejickova, for calling out the mockery, and different media members for masking 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 “hold up” gesture throughout his impressed run to the 2023 US Open semifinals, mentioned if we’re taking part in on the Pleased Slam, why a lot negativity from the host broadcaster?
Moreover, Shelton suggests if you cannot belief the host broadcaster investing hundreds of thousands 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 ought to be serving to us develop our sport and assist these athletes who simply received matches on the most important stage get pleasure from one among their largest moments,” Shelton mentioned. “I really feel like there’s simply been a whole lot of negativity. I believe that is one thing that should change.”
