Novak Djokovic (Photo credit: Reuters)
Novak Djokovic was sensationally disqualified from the US Open on Monday for hitting a linesman with a ball.
- Last update: September 8, 2020 11:38 AM M. IST
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Novak Djokovic has been disqualified from the US Open. Now, while that may have broken many hearts and dreams, the linesman who was hit with a ball by the tennis star, the move that disqualified him, has faced death threats on social media.
While playing at Arthur Ashe Stadium against Spain’s Pablo Carreño-Busta in the round of 16, it was decided that Djokovic would be disqualified. Having wasted three points, he grew increasingly frustrated and lost his cool. He struck a ball with reasonable force toward the back of the court and inadvertently struck a female linesman, later identified as Laura Clark, in the throat.
Djokovic, realizing his guilt immediately, was quick to see how he was doing and apologized when the linesman fell from his chair screaming in pain. Other reports suggested that Clark was not seriously injured in the accident.
Although neither the US Open nor Djokovic released the name of the woman, Laura Clark of Owensboro, Ky began receiving threats shortly after the decision. Your hometown newspaper The Owensboro Times, published his name in a story about Djokovic on Sunday afternoon. The London-based Daily Mail also reported that a tabloid in Djokovic’s native Serbia revealed his Instagram account, sparking “a barrage of deeply personal abuse.”
From taunting her for drinking to suggesting Clark may have been acting when the ball hit her, Djokovic fans were quick to blame her for their hero’s disqualification. In some posts in which Clark appeared to be promoting a wine company, some Djokovic fans said that if she could drink a few liters of wine, she could have survived the hit of the ball.
Some other vile users chose to lean further and mocked Clark in posts dedicated to his late son, Josh. In one such post, Instagram users commented that Clark would soon be joining Josh, who passed away in 2008.
The threats and hateful messages have been so extensive that US Open authorities are considering keeping Clark out of upcoming matches. Her Instagram account appears to have been deleted just like the one on Tuesday morning.
Not just Instagram, Twitter has been inundated with hundreds of memes since the disqualification, and unsurprisingly, they’re all aimed at Clark. Most seem to suggest that he was exaggerating.
Djokovic has now issued a statement on his social media platforms asking his fans to stop blaming the linesman for what happened.
Here’s the thing: the linesman had done nothing wrong; she was sitting where she was when the ball thrown by Djokovic in anger hit her without realizing it.
While Djokovic hadn’t intentionally hurt Clark either, the US Open has strict rules for such situations.
READ: What happened to Novak Djokovic at the US Open? What is the rule that disqualified you?
The Grand Slam rules state: “Players shall not physically abuse at any time any official, opponent, spectator or other person within the venue of the tournament venue. The referee, in consultation with the Grand Slam chief supervisors, may declare one foul for either one. a single violation of this code. “
(With input from Reuters)
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