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World number one Novak Djokovic was disqualified at the US Open. In his round of 16 match against Spain’s Pablo Carreño Busta, the Serb had hit a ball back in frustration after losing a service game in the first set after the point was already decided. He met a linesman who later fell and apparently had breathing problems.
The 33-year-old looked scared, it didn’t seem like a deliberate action. At the time it was 5: 6 from Djokovic’s point of view. He spoke with the refereeing team for minutes, but was eventually disqualified from the competition. More sanctions could be added, especially since Djokovic canceled the mandatory press conference and disappeared from the arena without comment.
At this year’s US Open, Djokovic was the clear favorite to win the tournament. His two great rivals Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer had not participated in this year’s Grand Slam tournament. Nadal’s trip to New York was too risky in view of the crown pandemic, Federer had already ended his season with a knee injury.
Djokovic, who was number one on the seeded list, made it to the round of 16 without a hitch. But against Carreño Busta he got into trouble from the start. When the score was 5: 4, Djokovic missed three set balls, he also fell during a rally, for which he apparently had pain in his shoulder.
When he later lost his service game to 5: 6, Djokovic knocked the ball back in frustration, without looking, and hit the linesman on the neck. Although he ran to her immediately and apologized, he could no longer prevent her exclusion from the tournament. Due to the disqualification of Djokovic and the absence of Nadal and Federer, there will now be a new winner of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in six years.
Earlier in the evening, the number one German men’s Alexander Zverev reached the quarterfinals for the first time at the US Open. The match against Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina decided at 1:34 am. Angelique Kerber, however, was eliminated in the second round with no chance against the American Jennifer Brady.
