Novak Djokovic: the world’s No. 1 apology after accidentally injuring a linesman and being disqualified from the US Open

“Sad and empty”.

This is how the world’s number one tennis player, Novak Djokovic, said he felt when he apologized for accidentally hitting a linesman with a ball at the US Open and being disqualified from the tournament for it.

The incident occurred in the quarterfinal match between Djokovic, 33, against Spaniard Pablo Carreño Busta.

After the eleventh game of the first set of the confrontation, the Serbian hit involuntarily to the judge after losing a point that was the ‘break’ of the Spanish.

Number one pulled a ball out of his pocket and tossed it backward, in an apparently frustrated gesture hitting the linesman in the throat.

After a long discussion, the number one was disqualified by the managers of the Open in Flushing Meadows, New York.

• Novak Djokovic is disqualified from the US Open for hitting a linesman with a pitch

At first, the renowned tennis player, winner of 17 Grand Slam and in search of the eighteenth in New York, left the venue without addressing the press, as usually happens in this type of tournaments after daily matches.

However, Djokovic later spoke on Instagram, apologizing for what happened.

What did the tennis player say

The Serbian posted a text along with a photograph of him leaving the party, crestfallen.

“This whole situation has left me really sad and empty,” said the tennis player on his Instagram account.

“I asked about the status of the linesman and (the organization) of the tournament told me that thank God she felt good. 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, “she added.

Number one went on to refer to disqualification, and underlined: “NORTHi need reflect deeply, work in my disappointment and turn all 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 great support, and to my fans for always being with me,” he said.

“Thank you and I’m very sorry”, he concluded.

Its publication did not take long to accumulate thousands of messages, especially of support from its followers, in the midst of the great controversy caused by what happened.

Various tennis players reproached him for his attitude in the match, including the legendary former tennis player Martina Navratilova, who considered him a accidental “hit” but “stupid”, and urged sports professionals to behave better.

Djokovic will lose all qualifying points earned at the US Open and also the prize money he had won at the tournament. You could also be fined for the incident.

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