Tony Jones has admitted saying that Novak Djokovic should be kicked out of Australia hit a raw nerve with the tennis superstar as the fallout from the ongoing stoush intensifies.

The Serbian Council of Australia has called for the Chanel 9 journalist to quit and Jones has made an apology but qualified it by saying he had already privately apologised to the 24-time grand slam winner.

Jones’ on-air apology may have gone some way to cooling tempers, but he was at pains to downplay the incident after he said Djokovic was “overrated” and a “has-been” during live a news cross from Melbourne Park on Friday as Serbian fans waved flags and chanted in the background.

“Novak, kick him out,” he sung back to them before adding, “I am glad that they can’t hear me.”

On Monday Jones said the “kick him out” gibe would not have sat well with Djokovic who was quarantined before the 2022 Australian Open because he was not vaccinated.

Djokovic is still unhappy about his treatment claiming in a recent magazine interview he had been poisoned through the poor food served at the Melbourne quarantine hotel.

The 10-time Australian Open champion was deported and did not play in the 2022 tournament.

“I can stand here and put whatever spin I want on that, but it can only be interpreted as a throwback to the COVID years (2022) when he was kicked out. That has angered Novak, which I completely understand now,” Jones said.

“It has been an unfortunate situation, it has been one of personal angst for Novak, it’s quite clearly personal angst for me as well.”

Djokovic made a short statement and walked off the court after his straight-sets win over Czech Jiri Lehecka on Sunday night without completing the mandatory post-match winner’s interview with US tennis great Jim Courier leaving the crowd and the broadcaster perplexed.

Djokic later apologised for leaving Courier in the lurch, but said he and Serbian fans had been deeply insulted by Jones’ behaviour.

Djokovic said he would refuse any interviews with the tournament’s host broadcaster until he received an apology.

It is unclear whether Jones’ apology has satisfied him ahead of his mouth-watching quarterfinal clash with Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday.

“The comments were made on the news on the Friday night, which I considered to be banter,” Jones said on the Today Show.

“I considered it to be humour, which is consistent with most things I do, whether it be the Sunday Footy Show or whether it be the Morning Show here.

“Having said that, I was made aware on the Saturday morning from Tennis Australia via the Djokovic camp that the Djokovic camp was not happy at all with those comments.

“Now, as such, I immediately contacted the Djokovic camp and issued an apology to them. So this is 48 hours ago.

“For any disrespect that Novak felt that I’d caused, and as I stand here now, I stand by that apology to Novak if he felt any disrespect, which quite clearly he does.”

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he’d seen Jones’ mocking remarks about Djokovic.

“We need more kindness and generosity and respect. Just across the board. I think that’s what people are looking for,” he told ABC radio.

The saga prompted widespread backlash on social media.

“The audacity to call Novak Djokovic overrated by a reporter is just insane. The guy literally completed tennis by winning everything you can in our sport!” dual Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka posted on X.

Jones was also a target for American player Danielle Collins last week after he labelled her a “brat” for her post-match reaction when she defeated Australian Destanee Aiava.