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By Reuters 
1 hour ago
NEW YORK – A petulant hit to the ball after his service was broken brought a sensational finish to Novak Djokovic’s US Open on Sunday after the world number one was disqualified for hitting a linesman in the throat.
The dramatic moment came when the overwhelming title favorite reacted angrily by going 5-6 against Spaniard Pablo Carreño Busta in the first set of their fourth round match at an empty Arthur Ashe stadium.
What would have been a harmless incident if the ball had flown 12 inches to either side of the official instead of leaving her lying on the ground, clutching her throat and screaming in pain.
There was no doubt that Djokovic inadvertently hit her, and was quick to apologize, but it was a clear violation of Grand Slam rules prohibiting physical abuse of anyone within tournament venues.
Tournament referee Soeren Friemel came out and spoke with chair umpire Aurelie Tourte and Andreas Egli, the Grand Slam supervisor, before a lengthy chat with the three-time US Open champion.
Djokovic, who was clearly saying that he had not intended to hit the officer, was heard saying “she doesn’t have to go to the hospital for this”, but after 12 minutes of pleading her case, her fate was sealed.
Novak Djokovic has been defaulted at the 2020 US Open.
Lesson:
-Keeping calm is very important even if you are already at the top-You never took your disappointment to turn into anger
-Just a second of reaction has the power to change your life for better or for worse.
Courtesy: SM pic.twitter.com/IQ9WWYasRZ
– Awanish Sharan (@AwanishSharan) September 7, 2020
“I don’t think there was any possibility of any opportunity or any other decision other than Novak’s default,” Friemel later told reporters.
“The facts were so clear and obvious … (the linesman) was clearly hurt and Novak was angry, he hit the ball recklessly, angry.”
A tournament spokesman told Reuters the linesman appeared to be fine and “was not moved off-site.” His identity is unknown.
Djokovic finally reached out to shake hands with a stunned Carreño Busta and left the court before leaving without attending a press conference.
The 33-year-old Serbian later posted an apology on Instagram.
“This whole situation has left me really sad and empty,” he wrote. “I’m so sorry I caused you so much stress. So unintentionally. So bad.
“I apologize to the (US Open) and all associates for my behavior.
Remarkable even in a year in which the coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc on the sporting world, the disqualification ended Djokovic’s streak of 26 consecutive victories in 2020 and what, at times, seemed like a burden towards his 18th championship title. Grand Slam.
That would have put him within a title of Rafa Nadal’s 19 tally and two of Roger Federer’s 20 great wins.
The USTA said Djokovic would lose all qualifying points earned in the event and be fined $ 250,000, his prize money for reaching the fourth round.
The consensus among the former champions-turned-experts and their teammates was that Djokovic had accidentally hit the linesman but, although unfortunate, the decision to disqualify him had been correct.
“It’s the right decision,” Tim Henman, who was disqualified from Wimbledon for a similar incident in 1995, told Amazon Prime.
“He is not aiming at the linesman, but he has hit the ball and you have to be responsible for your actions.”
With defending champion Nadal and Federer absent this year and no other former winners of the four major tournaments left in the men’s draw, Flushing Meadows is now guaranteed to welcome a new member to the club of Grand Slam champions.
See this post on Instagram
This whole situation has left me really sad and empty. I checked the person on the lines and the tournament told me that thank God she was feeling fine. I’m so sorry that I caused you so much stress. So involuntary. So wrong. I will not reveal your name to respect your privacy. As for disqualification, I need to go back inside myself and work on my disappointment and turn all of this into a lesson for my growth and evolution as a player and a human being. I apologize to the @usopen tournament and all associates for my behavior. I am very grateful to my team and my family for being my rock support, and to my fans for always being with me. Thank you and I am so sorry. This whole situation makes me really sad and empty. I reviewed how the linesman is feeling and based on the information I received, he feels fine thank goodness. I cannot reveal your name to preserve your privacy. I’m so sorry that I caused you so much stress. It was not intentional. It was wrong. I want to turn this unpleasant experience, the disqualification from the tournament, into an important life lesson, to continue growing and developing as a person, but also as a tennis player. I apologize to the organizers of the US Open. I am very grateful to my team and my family for giving me strong support, as well as my fans because they are always with me. Thank you and I’m sorry. This has been a difficult day for everyone.
Djokovic’s humiliating departure continues what has been a turbulent few months for him off the pitch. He was criticized for hosting the Adria Tour exhibition event in June in which he and several players tested positive for COVID-19.
He then dropped a bombshell on the eve of the US Open by announcing that he had stepped down as president of the ATP Player Council to head a new players association.
“I need to go back inside myself and work on my disappointment and turn all this into a lesson for my growth and evolution as a player and a human being,” he added in his statement on Instagram.
World number 27 Carreño Busta progresses to the quarterfinals against young Canadian Denis Shapovalov and both players know that they have never had a better chance at an inaugural Grand Slam title.
Reuters
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