Novak Djokovic defaulted from US Open after hitting linesperson
After striking a linesperson in the throat with a ball Novak Djokovic was kicked out of the US Open. While many have lambasted the world No 1 some have sympathised. So does the punishment fit the crime?
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World No.1 Novak Djokovic has spoken out about the moment of madness that saw him kicked out of the US Open in disgrace after striking a lineswoman with a ball.
Playing in his fourth round match against Pablo Carreno Busta, the tournament favourite dropped his serve at 5-5 in the first set.
Without looking, he then angrily smashed a ball to the back of the court.
It struck a lineswoman in the throat and knocked her to the ground.
THE VIDEO THAT SHOWS DJOKOVIC WILL NEVER CHANGE
Oh my god, Djokovic got disqualified from the US Open.pic.twitter.com/yCo3Lqw0tg
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 6, 2020
Wow Djoker just hit lines person he is going to be defaulted
— Brad Gilbert (@bgtennisnation) September 6, 2020
Djokovic immediately went to her aid and she was later helped from the court by officials.
Djokovic and tournament officials remained on court for about 15 minutes before the decision was made to kick him out of the tournament.
He quickly exited Flushing Meadows without speaking to reporters but released a statement via his social media.
“This whole situation has left me really sad and empty,” he said.
“I checked on the lines person and the tournament told me that thank God she is feeling OK.
“I‘m extremely sorry to have caused her such stress. So unintended. So wrong. I’m not disclosing her name to respect her privacy.
“As for the disqualification, I need to go back within and work on my disappointment and turn this all into a lesson for my growth and evolution as a player and human being. I apologise to the (US Open) tournament and everyone associated for my behaviour.
“I’m very grateful to my team and family for being my rock support, and my fans for always being there with me. Thank you and I’m so sorry.”
While many have lambasted the world No 1 for the incident, players have sympathised with him.
Germany’s Alexander Zverev said it was “very unfortunate.”
“He hit a tennis ball. It’s very unfortunate that, you know, he hit the line judge, and especially where it hit her,” Zverev said.
“There is a rule in place for it. I think the supervisors and all of them are just doing their job. Very unlucky for Novak.
“He’s going to be a little bit upset about it. If he would have hit it anywhere else, if it would have landed anywhere else, we are talking about a few inches, he would have been fine.”
Denis Shapovalov who was himself disqualified back in 2017 for smacking a chair umpire in the face said: “I’ve been trough that myself. I feel awful for Djokovic. It was just a fluke, terrible for everybody. Super unfortunate”.
Carreno Busta said he did not see the incident.
“I was celebrating the break with my coach,” he told reporters. “When I heard that the line judge was on the floor I was in shock. I never expected this moment when playing Novak.
Carreno Busta added that the incident was “unintentional.” “I think it was bad luck,” he said.
Djokovic is one of only a handful of players to be disqualified from a men’s singles tournament since John McEnroe at the Australian Open in 1990.
THE RIGHT CALL?
“Players have been defaulted for less,” said Darren Cahill, the veteran coach who was sitting courtside in Arthur Ashe Stadium covering the match for ESPN. “I think the tournament made the right decision.”
While his fate was being decided, Djokovic attempted to downplay the injury to the official.
He was picked up by the on-court microphone telling a tournament referee, “She doesn’t have to go to the hospital for this.”
He then continued, “You’re going to choose a default in this situation? My career, grand slam, centre stage”.
The United States Tennis Association said he would lose all ranking points and prize money ($250,000) from the tournament.
STEVE BRADBURY MOMENT
With the likes of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal not competing at this year’s US Open, Djokovic was the raging favourite to win the tournament.
Retired Aussie tennis star Sam Groth said that with Djokovic out, the winner would have a “Steve Bradbury” moment,
“It’s 100% the rules,” he said.
“In a slam the only threat to you winning is your temper. The officials got it right. Every player has an understanding of who is on the court and where.
“It’s second nature and for Novak - he has been on these courts in major events as much as anyone.
Swap me for jokers incident. ‘Accidentally hitting the ball kid in the throat’ how many years would I be banned for?
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) September 6, 2020
“Those left in the draw are having their Steve Bradbury moment”
Former US tennis player James Blake agreed that the only way for Djokovic to lose the US Open was for him to beat himself.
“First things first, I hope that the linesperson is OK,” he said.
“She was hit in the throat so we hope for her it’s a speedy recovery and that she is OK.
“We thought of Novak as the huge favourite. He was really playing against himself.
“The only way he could lose this is to beat himself. This is one way he did it.”
Former Australian tennis player Rennae Stubbs said the tournament made the right decision.
“The bottom line is, he did it in anger,” she told ESPN.
Unbelievable what just happened on the court at the @usopen - Novak Djokovic defaulted for inadvertently but stupidly hitting a lineswoman in the throat with a ball and the officials had no choice but to default. Wow…#sad
— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) September 6, 2020
Glad the woman is ok- we must do better than that.
“He was upset and no matter what…if you’re not aware of things around you and you hit a ball in anger, it was in anger, he’d lost the game. He didn’t even bother to turn around and see and he hit that woman in the face, you’re done.”
Former British No.1 Greg Rusedski described the disqualification as “unbelievable” but said officials had made the “correct decision.” “Novak should have stayed for the press conference & apologise,” Rusedski wrote. “We must take responsibility for our actions no matter how difficult the situation is.”
There was some sympathy for the world No 1 however.
Germany’s Alexander Zverev said it was “very unfortunate.”
“He hit a tennis ball. It’s very unfortunate that, you know, he hit the line judge, and especially where it hit her,” Zverev said.
“There is a rule in place for it. I think the supervisors and all of them are just doing their job. Very unlucky for Novak.
“He’s going to be a little bit upset about it. If he would have hit it anywhere else, if it would have landed anywhere else, we are talking about a few inches, he would have been fine.”
NOTHING NEW
This is not the first time Djokovic’s on-court anger issues have been in the spotlight.
At an ATP World Tour Championships press conference, he engaged in an angry exchange with a reporter who questioned if he needed to be careful with striking balls in anger.
“You guys are unbelievable,” he said at the time.
“You’re always picking these kind of things. It is incredible.
“I keep doing these things? Why don’t I get suspended?”
“I’m close? I’m still not suspended.”
When pressed again on if it was an issue, Djokovic said: “It is not an issue for me. It is not the first time that I did it.”
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OOOH THIS IS SWEET pic.twitter.com/6NbpD4bful
— 2B (@Makaveli2B) September 6, 2020