Novak Djokovic secured his spot in the Australian Open quarterfinals with a decisive straight-set victory against Jiří Lehecka in the fourth round. However, the win was followed by controversy as Djokovic refused to engage with Australia's Channel 9, the tournament's official broadcaster, due to comments made by journalist Tony Jones.

Djokovic expressed his discontent, demanding an apology from the station and Jones, whom he accused of mocking Serbian fans and making offensive remarks towards him. Jones had reportedly labeled Djokovic overrated and past his prime. Djokovic stated his intention to continue boycotting the network, leaving it to Channel 9 to address the situation.

The tennis star's decision to bypass the customary on-court interview with Jim Courier further underscored his frustration. He later confirmed in a press conference that he had discussed the matter with Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley, emphasizing his stance and willingness to accept any potential fines for declining the interview.

Adding fuel to the fire, Elon Musk, owner of X, commented on social media, suggesting that direct communication with the public is preferable to interacting with legacy media. Djokovic concurred with Musk's sentiment.