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NEW YORK (AP) – World No. 1 Novak Djokovic was sensationally disqualified in the fourth round of the U.S. Open on Sunday (Sept. 6) after hitting a linesman with a ball after a point during the first set of his match against the Spanish Pablo Carreño Busta.
Djokovic was getting frustrated after taking a fall and after dropping his serve to fall behind 5-6, he hit a reasonably hard ball down the court, hitting a lineswoman above the shoulders.
He immediately apologized and stood next to her when she appeared distraught on the ground.
Tournament referee Soeren Friemel stepped out to Arthur Ashe Stadium and spoke with chair umpire Aurelie Tourte before a lengthy discussion with the 33-year-old Serbian, a three-time former US Open winner.
Djokovic was clearly signaling that he had not intended to hit the referee, but according to the rules of tennis, his fate was already sealed.
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 site.
“The referee, in consultation with the Grand Slam chief supervisors, may declare a foul for a single violation of this code.”
Despite his pleas, Djokovic was ultimately disqualified before reaching out to shake hands with a stunned Carreño Busta and trudge to face the music.
It was an incredible ending to the first seed’s hopes of winning an 18th Grand Slam title, something that seemed increasingly likely as the fortnight progressed.
“It’s the right decision,” Tim Henman, who was disqualified from Wimbledon for a similar incident in 1995, told Amazon Prime. “He’s not aiming for the linesman, but he has hit the ball and you have to be responsible for your actions.” .
Former champion Mats Wilander, analyzing the action for Eurosport, said that it was very bad luck for Djokovic but that it had been the right decision.
“You are not allowed to do that,” he said. “It’s all the bad luck you can have on a tennis court. He didn’t just roll the ball back to the ball boy, that’s the bottom line.”
“It hit him harder than he intended, obviously a total accident. It was a sign of frustration, yes. A little. But it doesn’t matter, you don’t have permission to.”
The incredible development has opened the picture wide, especially with defending champion Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer absent this year. Nadal chose not to travel to New York due to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic, while Federer recovers from knee surgery.
The failure of a world number one sent shockwaves around Flushing Meadows, which has seen many crazy events over the years.
“I’m a little shocked at the moment, to be honest,” Alexander Zverev told reporters after his own fourth round win over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
“If I had hit it anywhere else, if it had landed anywhere else, we’re talking a few inches, it would have been fine.”
Carreño Busta will now face the quarterfinals against Denis Shapovalov or seventh seed David Goffin.
A tournament spokesperson told Reuters that the linesman appears to be fine and was not moved off-site. His identity is unknown.
