[ad_1]
Novak Djokovic apologized for his disqualification at the US Open on Sunday, declaring himself “extremely sorry” for the moment of insanity that saw him excluded from the tournament.
In a statement on Instagram just hours after his sensational outing in New York, the Serbian world number one said that the controversy had left him “really sad and empty.”
The 33-year-old was expelled from the tournament after accidentally hitting a tennis ball in the throat of a linesman during his fourth-round match with Spain’s Pablo Carreño Busta.
“This whole situation has left me really sad and empty,” Djokovic said in a statement on Instagram. “I checked the person on the lines and the tournament told me that thank God she feels good.
“I’m so sorry I caused you so much stress. So unintentionally. So bad.”
Djokovic, who left Flushing Meadows without speaking to reporters after his departure, said he would try to learn from the incident.
“As for the disqualification, I need to go back inside myself and work on my disappointment and turn all this into a lesson for my growth and evolution as a player and a human being,” he said.
“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’m very sorry.”
Djokovic is one of the few players who have been excluded from a Grand Slam tournament since John McEnroe was ejected from the 1990 Australian Open.
rcw / bb
