Melbourne, Australia – Ben Sheltonthe 22 -year -old American who made the Australian Open On Wednesday in the semi-finals with a victory over Lorenzo Sonego, added his voice to the choir of players who criticized the broadcasters and the interviewers on the field during his post-match press conference.
“I was a little shocked this week by the way the players were treated by the broadcasters,” said Shelton.
He is at the top of his complaint list with Tony Jones, the sports presenter of Channel 9, who narrated the Serbian supporters, called Novak Djokovic calls and shouts “expel it“On the antenna. It was an apparent reference to the expulsion of Djokovic of Australia two years ago due to the COVVI-19 protocols.
Jones apologized on the air, saying that he had “exceeded the course”, after Djokovic qualified his comments as “insulting and offensive”. He had refused to lend himself to interviews on the ground until he received apology.
“I don’t think it was one event,” said Shelton. “I noticed it in different people, not only myself.”
He mentioned America The learner yoursOn the field, a conversation stowed at 3 am during which a yours, 19 years old, exhausted and dazed, was the subject of mockery when two questions left him a little speech after almost five hours of Tennis in the middle of the night. He had just eliminated Daniil Medvedev, seeded n ° 5.
“The 19 -year -olds are not supposed to be so good,” said interviewer John Fitzgerald. Then he asked Tien if he had heard of his next opponent, Corentin Moutet.
“I noticed him with Learner Tien in one of his games,” said Shelton. “I think when he beat Medvedev, his post-match maintenance. I thought it was rather embarrassing and disrespectful.
Shelton then turned to his own experiences. After his victory in the fourth round Gaël MonfilsThe interviewer told Shelton that Monfils could be his father. Monfils is black, just like Shelton, who replied: “Is it a black joke?
He later said that he did not think that the interviewer wanted to say any wickedness in this comment, but that it still made him uncomfortable.
“There are comments made to me during post-match interviews by a few different guys. Today, on the field, “hey, well, what does it do to know that no matter who you will face in your next match, nobody will encourage you?”
“I mean, it may be true, but I just don’t think that the comment is respectful from a guy that I have never met in my life.”
Shelton said he believed that broadcasters and interviewers did not do a job good enough to promote tennis.
“I think the broadcasters should help us develop our sport and help these athletes who have just won matches on the biggest scene to live one of their greatest moments. I have the impression that there has been a lot of negativity. I think it’s something that has to change.
Tennis Australia was not immediately able to respond to Shelton’s comments.
(Nick Denholm/Getty Images)