MELBOURNE, Australia – Ben Shelton, the 22-year-old American who reached the semifinals of the Australian Open on Wednesday with a win over Lorenzo Sonego, added his voice to the chorus of players critical of the broadcasters and on-court interviewers in his post-match press conference.
“I’m a little shocked this week by the way players have been treated by the broadcasters,” Shelton said.
He topped his list of complaints with Tony Jones, the Channel 9 sports reporter, who taunted Serbian fans, berated Novak Djokovic and shouted “kick him out” on air. It was a clear reference to Djokovic being deported from Australia two years ago due to Covid-19 protocols.
Jones apologized on air, saying he had “crossed the line” after Djokovic called his comments “insulting and insulting.” He had refused to conduct court interviews until he received the apology.
“I don’t think this was just a single event,” Shelton said. “I’ve noticed it in several people, not just myself.”
He mentioned American Learner Tien’s on-court interview, a stilted 3 a.m. conversation in which an exhausted and dazed Tien, 19, became the object of mocking when two questions left him a little speechless after nearly five hours of tennis in the middle of the night. the night. He had just knocked out No. 5 seed Daniil Medvedev.
“19-year-olds aren’t supposed to be that good,” said the interviewer, John Fitzgerald. He then asked Tien if he had ever heard of his next opponent, Corentin Moutet.
“I noticed it with Student Ten in one of his matches,” Shelton said. “I think when he beat Medvedev, his post-match interview. I found it a bit embarrassing and disrespectful.”
Shelton then turned to his own experiences. After his fourth-round victory over Gael Monfils, the interviewer told Shelton that Monfils could be his father. Monfils is black, as is Shelton, who responded, “is that a black joke?”
He later said he didn’t think the interviewer meant any malice by the comment, but that it still made him uncomfortable.
“There have been a number of comments made to me in post-match interviews by a number of different lads. Today on the field: “Hey, Ben, how does it feel that no matter who you play in your next game, no one is going to cheer for you?”
“I mean, it may be true, but I just don’t think the comment is respectful to a man I’ve never met before in my life.”
Shelton said he felt the broadcasters and interviewers were not doing a good enough job promoting tennis.
“I believe broadcasters should help us grow our sport and help these athletes who have just won competitions on the biggest stage enjoy one of their biggest moments. I feel like there’s just been a lot of negativity. I think that’s something that needs to change.”
Tennis Australia could not immediately respond to Shelton’s comments.
(Nick Denholm/Getty Images)