Written by Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Photograph credit score: Matthew Calvin
Comfortable Slam feels rather a lot like its personal Mockery Main Ben Shelton.
22-year-old Shelton stopped Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(4) to advance to the semi-finals of the Australian Open.
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On the finish of his post-match presser, Shelton referred to as out the AO announcer Channel 9 what he believes is disrespecting gamers within the air and on social media.
Shelton, who performs the twenty first position, stated he was “slightly shocked” by the extent of disdain he believed a few of the interviewers confirmed in direction of different gamers and dismissed the protection as “disgraceful.”
“I used to be slightly shocked this week on the method the gamers have been handled by the broadcasters,” stated Shelton to the media in Melbourne. “I do not assume that the man who taunted Novak, I do not assume that was only one occasion.
“I observed it with completely different individuals, not solely me. I observed it with Learner Tien in certainly one of his matches. I believe when he beat Medvedev in his post-match interview, I believed it was a disgrace and disrespectful in that interview.”
After his fourth-round win over Jiri Lehecka, Djokovic spoke briefly to the group, however refused a court-ordered interview due to what he referred to as “insulting” feedback by Channel 9 broadcaster Tony Jones.
In his post-match assertion afterwards, the 37-year-old Serbian participant stated he ignored the on-court interview arguing that Channel 9 hosts Tony Jones mocking the Serbian followers and insulting Djokovic himself as a “failure” and “extreme.”
Novak Djokovic defined in his press convention that he doesn’t wish to speak to the host of 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 revealed by the Channel 9 host as Serbian followers celebrated Djokovic’s victory with chants of “Nole! Nole!” whereas waving Serbian flags. Jones, apparently irritated by the chanting Serbian followers, taunted the group with a chant that mimicked the Serbian followers however stated “Novak, you are over it….Novak, you are the one who’s been round.”
Djokovic referred to as out Jones for making “a mockery of the Serbian followers” and “insulting and offensive feedback about me.”
“A number of days in the past, a well-known sports activities journalist who works for the official broadcaster, Channel 9 right here in Australia, made enjoyable of the Serbian followers and stated insulting phrases about me,” stated Djokovic to the media in Melbourne. “And since then, he selected to not apologize to the general public. Likewise to Channel 9. So since they’re official broadcasters, I selected to not talk about them on Channel 9.
“I’ve nothing towards Jim Courier or the Australian neighborhood. It was an unlucky scenario for me to face the court docket right this moment.
Ultimately, Jones apologized to Djokovic and the Grand Slam king gave a wide-ranging interview on court docket following his quarterfinal win over Carlos Alcaraz.
Pointing to Jones’ mockery of Djokovic, the 19-year-old American questions Pupil Tien he confronted it following his upset of the three-time finalist Daniel Medvedev and the individual you might be speaking to jokingly asks what Gael Monfils was his father, Shelton stated that some questioners crossed the road into nearly contentious territory on function throughout this 2025 AO.
“There is a remark I’ve made in interviews with completely different guys after the sport, like, Hey, Monfils is sufficiently old to be your dad. Perhaps he’s your dad,” stated Shelton, his father. , Bryan Shelton, is a former ATP champion, two-time Newport champion and serves as his son’s coach. “Even right this moment on the court docket, Ben, how do you are feeling that regardless of who you play within the subsequent sport, nobody will cheer you on?
“I imply it is likely to be true, however I do not assume the remark is respectful to a man I’ve by no means met earlier than in my life.”
For years, gamers have endured merciless insults, private assaults, and, in excessive instances, even threats from disgruntled loser gamblers or ill-mannered social media threats in social media posts.
In latest months, many gamers have spoken out towards main media retailers and host broadcasters after they’ve heard commentators cross the road into ridicule.
Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova has publicly criticized the Tennis Channel’s Jon Wertheim after her humorous touch upon her brow whereas she thought she was practising was seen and posted on social media.
In that case, the TC suspended Wertheim for a yr although some followers and commentators really criticized each Krejickova, calling it a joke, and a few media retailers for writing it saying that professionals ought to develop robust skins and settle for criticism as a part of their jobs.
Some gamers say some Channel 9 commentators make sarcastic and humorous feedback and say they’re simply being “tacky” or “sarcastic” to keep away from backlash.
Shelton says there’s a large distinction between criticizing a participant’s efficiency and a private assault.
Shelton, who acquired criticism from commentators, followers and different gamers, together with Djokovic, for his well-known act of “shut up” throughout his run within the US Open 2023 semi-final, stated if we’re enjoying within the Comfortable Slam, why a lot criticism from the broadcaster?
Moreover, Shelton means that if you cannot belief a broadcaster who invests thousands and thousands of {dollars} to indicate the Australian Open to honor the gamers, what does that say concerning the state of tennis promotion?
“I really feel that the broadcasters ought to assist us develop our sport and assist these athletes who’ve simply received video games within the large league take pleasure in certainly one of their largest moments,” stated Shelton. “I really feel like there’s simply plenty of unhealthy issues. I believe that is one thing that must be modified.”
