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It was out of admiration for old references like Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi or Michael Chang that Laura Clark, an American from Owensboro, Kentucky, wanted to risk a life in refereeing or as a linesman in tennis. However, in one of the first men’s tournaments he ran in Louisville, things didn’t go so well and he was hit with a ball at over 200 km / h. “I opened my lip completely”, he said in an interview with Living Owensboro Magazine, a more regional publication that has probably never had as many visitors as this week. It was then in November 2014, a time when it was fair and only what he liked: linesman. Six years later, for the worst reasons, it became known. And it was this “fame” that appeared for an unhappy moment from Novak Djokovic that ended up altering his normal life a lot.
Unusual: Djokovic disqualified from US Open after hitting linesman with ball to throat
If the organization and the Serbian did not reveal any identity after the unusual match of the fourth round of the US Open in which the number 1 of the classification came to the linesman with the ball at his throat still in the first set, which meant the disqualification of Djokovic from the tournament (in addition to the loss of all the points achieved so far and the prize money in the previous rounds won), a small local newspaper in the United States, the Owensboro Times, published a short story about what happened but with his name. It was from there that the world quickly began to meet Laura Clark. Bad timing, for the worst reasons.
“May it serve as a lesson for my growth.” Djokovic’s mea culpa, disqualified from the US Open for hitting a linesman
Shortly after this revelation, the linesman’s personal Instagram page was invaded by critical comments for what Djokovic fans considered a theatrical act that led to the player’s disqualification when he was in a position to keep the series 26-0 at games in 2020, winning the second Grand Slam of the season and getting even closer to Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal’s record. This turned out not to be the worst thing he had to read before closing his account a few hours later: in addition to the threats, he received comments saying that I would soon go to the son (who died in 2008 in a motorcycle accident, aged only 25) and others who questioned the attitude after being hit and argued that it had been a theater to keep the player away.
Dear fans, thank you for the positive messages, but remember that the linesman who was hit by the ball last night also needs our support. She did nothing wrong. I ask you to be here or to stay especially to support and take care of her during this time ”, asked Novak Djokovic on social media after learning what happened after the meeting.
Dear #NoleFam thanks for your positive messages. Please also remember that the linesman who was hit by the ball last night also needs the support of our community. She has done nothing wrong at all. I ask for your special support and care during this time. (1/2)
– Novak Djokovic (DjokerNole) September 7, 2020
In her 2014 interview with Living Owensboro Magazine, Laura Clark explained that until she went to a tournament in Cincinatti with two friends, where she saw some of the leading American figures in the sport, she had never seen a tennis match. It was from that moment that she began to like tennis, holding the first tournament as an official in 2007 after having contacted the local coordinator, having downloaded the regulations and having attended several courses. He was the main referee, chair umpire, linesman. And even today, he often uses the string he bought years ago, with a small racket and a diamond ball. Two years later he participated in his first major tournament, curiously the same one in Cincinatti that had awakened his passion for tennis. Later he was in high places like Davis Cup, Rod Laver Cup or Grand Slams.
CONTINUING COVERAGE: No. 1 ranked male tennis player Novak Djokovic was disqualified from the US Open after hitting a linesman with a tennis ball. The family of that person on the line, Laura Clark, tells us she’s from Owensboro. https://t.co/GkMpcdGAt8
– Shaelie Clark (@ Shaelie14News) September 7, 2020
“Is it worth it in financial terms? I would do all of this for free. It’s not something that makes you earn a lot of money but I love doing it… “, he said, also explaining the preparation he does before a match:” I try to abstract myself from everything. There is a big room for us, where all the referees are together, where we play cards or something like that, but 15 minutes before the game I go out, I focus and I remember what I’m doing there. I do this to clear my mind and do my best. ” “The only times people see us is when we screw it up. Punctuation. The first time we walked into a cut cool is a scary experience, but when the game starts the nerves disappear, until you make a mistake and hear the voices in the background coming from the stands afterwards. And it all comes back, ”he described to Living Owensboro Magazine. In 2014. Six years later, without having to screw up, people “saw” it. As I did not want and in the worst way.
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