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NEW YORK: Novak Djokovic was sensationally disqualified from the US Open on Sunday after hitting a female line official in the throat with a ball.
The world number one lost 5-6 in the first set to Spaniard Pablo Carreño Busta when he pulled a ball out of his pocket and hit it in disgust in the direction of the referee.
Djokovic seemed to be looking away at the time, but he hit the ball with considerable force and when he hit it he could hear her gasp and cough.
The official fell to the floor of Arthur Ashe’s court clutching her neck.
Djokovic was quick to check that he was okay.
He put his hand on her shoulder as she seemed to be struggling to catch her breath.
After a few minutes he got up and left the court.
After about 10 minutes of discussions with a rules official, during which Djokovic argued his case, the referee declared that Carreño Busta had won by default.
Djokovic then shook hands with Carreño Busta, but not the referee in the referee’s chair as he left the court looking puzzled.
He quickly left Flushing Meadows without speaking to reporters.
Carreño Busta said he did not see the incident.
“I was celebrating the break with my coach,” he told reporters.
“When I heard that the linesman was on the floor, I was shocked. I never expected this moment when playing Novak.
Carreño Busta added that the incident was “involuntary.”
“I think it was bad luck,” he said.
Djokovic is one of the few players to be disqualified from a men’s singles tournament at a Grand Slam since John McEnroe was expelled from the Australian Open in 1990.
The United States Tennis Association said it would lose all qualifying points and prize money from the tournament.
‘Very bad luck’
Rivals and former players reacted with shock after the disqualification.
Germany’s Alexander Zverev had words of sympathy for Djokovic and described the disqualification as “very unfortunate”.
“He hit a tennis ball. It’s very unfortunate that you know, he hit the linesman, and especially where he hit her, ”Zverev said.
“There is a rule for it. I think the supervisors and all of them are just doing their job. Very bad luck for Novak.
“He’s going to be a bit upset about that. If I had hit it anywhere else, if it had landed anywhere else, we’re talking a few inches, it would have been fine. “
Former women’s world number one Tracy Austin said the disqualification was justified.
“Correct call! Impressive to see how this plays out. Hope the person is okay… #crazyturnofevents, ”Austin wrote on Twitter.
And four-time US Open champion Martina Navratilova said officials “had no choice” but to sideline Djokovic.
Former British number one Greg Rusedski described the disqualification as “unbelievable” but said officials had made the “right decision”.
“Novak should have stayed for the press conference and apologized,” Rusedski wrote.
“We must take responsibility for our actions no matter how difficult the situation is.”
Djokovic had been chasing an 18th Grand Slam title at the US Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
He was hoping to close the gap with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, both absent from the tournament, in the race for the all-time record for the men’s singles Slam title.
Djokovic is 17, Nadal 19 and Federer 20.
