Tennis: Nick Kyrgios responds to how the tennis world reacts to Novak Djokovic’s disqualification from the US Open

Nick Kyrgios wasted no time weighing in after Novak Djokovic was disqualified from the US Open for hitting a line at the throat.

Seeded Djokovic was suspended from his fourth-round match at the US Open after he accidentally hit a linesman on the neck with a tennis ball today.

It was an impressive ending to Djokovic’s bid for an 18th Grand Slam title and his 26-0 start to this season.

Australian tennis star Kyrgios, a vocal critic of Djokovic, took to Twitter to suggest that he would have received a large suspension if he had done something similar.

“Trade me for jokers [Djokovic] incident, “Kyrgios wrote at the top of the poll.

“Accidentally hitting the ball boy in the throat ‘for how many years will I be banned?”

Meanwhile, the rest of the tennis world reacted with a mixture of compassion and outrage to Djokovic’s sensational outburst.

BBC tennis commentator Gigi Salmon said: “He wasn’t looking, he didn’t hit him very hard, but he hit the linesman in the throat.”

“Without a doubt, it should have been breached. They shouldn’t have discussed it for so long. You can’t do that.

“At your age, at your stage, with what you’re trying to do, you know better than anyone in sport that you don’t do that.

“It was accidental, but it doesn’t matter. This is your office. This is your workplace.”

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 it,” Zverev said.

“There is a rule for it. I think supervisors and all of them are just doing their job. Very bad luck for Novak.

“He’s going to be a little upset about that. If I had hit him anywhere else, if he 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! Amazing to see how this plays out. Hope the person is okay … # crazyturnofevents,” Austin wrote on Twitter.

Tennis legend Billie Jean King tweeted: “First I hope the linesman is okay. The rule is the rule. It is unfortunate for everyone involved, but in this specific situation, the default decision was the correct one.”

Sports Illustrated tennis writer Jon Wertheim said Djokovic deserved to be breached for his “indefensible act.”

The US Tennis Association issued a statement saying that Djokovic would be fined all the prize money and lose all qualifying points earned during the major.

“In accordance with the Grand Slam regulations, following your actions of intentionally hitting a ball in a dangerous or reckless manner on the court or hitting a ball without regard for consequences, the referee of the US Open tournament. He breached Novak Djokovic of the 2020 US Open, “the statement read.

“Due to the breach, Djokovic will lose all qualifying points earned at the US Open and will be fined the prize money won in the tournament, in addition to any or all fines imposed in connection with the criminal incident.”

It means that Djokovic will lose the $ AUD340,000 in prize money that players who qualify for the fourth round will win.

DJOKOVIC SAYS SORRY

Almost three hours after his indiscretion, Djokovic took to Instagram to apologize for his outburst.

“This whole situation has left me really sad and empty. I checked the lines of the person and the tournament told me that thank God she feels good,” he wrote.

“I am so sorry I caused you such stress. So unintentional. So wrong. I will not reveal your name to respect your privacy.

“Regarding the disqualification, I need to go back inside 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 great support, and to my fans for always being with me. Thank you and I am so sorry.”

WHICH ARE THE RULES

The “Unsportsmanlike Conduct” section of the grand slam regulations reads: “Players will conduct themselves at all times in a sporting manner and will take due account of the authority of officials and the rights of opponents, spectators and others.

“In circumstances that are flagrant and particularly detrimental to the success of the tournament, or that are uniquely egregious, a single violation of this Section will also constitute the major offense of ‘Aggravated Behavior’ and will be subject to the additional penalties set forth below.

“For the purposes of this Rule, Unsportsmanlike Conduct is defined as any misconduct by a player that is clearly abusive or detrimental to the sport.”

The Grand Slam rules also state: “Players shall not physically abuse at any time any official, opponent, spectator or other person within the venue of the tournament site.”

One of the “penalties” offered includes a default.

“The referee in consultation with the Grand Slam Chief Supervisor may declare a breach for a single violation of this code or in accordance with the Points Penalty Program set forth above,” the rule book says.

“In all cases of non-compliance, the decision of the Referee in consultation with the Chief Grand Slam Supervisor will be final and unappealable.”

As noted by tennis commentator Nick McCarvel on Twitter, it appears that officials determined that Djokovic’s sin “was 1. flagrant and 2. injurious.”

Retired ATP Tour vice president Gayle David Bradshaw told the New York Times that players can be indicted for “hitting a ball or throwing a racket without intent to hurt” if someone on the court is injured.

“In this case, there was no intention, but there was damage, and the officials had no choice but to do what they did,” he said.