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Novak Djokovic was suspended from his fourth-round match at the US Open after he accidentally hit a linesman with a tennis ball.
Novak Djokovic has been disqualified from the US Open after hitting a linesman with the ball.
The world number one had just dropped his serve to go behind his opponent Pablo Carreño Busta 6-5 in the first set of his fourth round match at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
He hit a ball behind him in frustration and hit a female linesman. After he hit the ball, it was immediately clear that he was injured and the Serbian rushed to check on his condition.
The tournament referee, Soeren Friemel, took to the court and spoke with chair umpire Aurelie Tourte and Andreas Egli, the Grand Slam supervisor, before a lengthy discussion between tournament officials and Djokovic.
He advocated extensively for his case before accepting his fate, picking up his rackets, and leaving the court.
According to Grand Slam regulations, following his actions of intentionally hitting a ball in a dangerous or reckless manner on the court or hitting a ball without regard for consequences, the US Open tournament referee failed to comply with Novak Djokovic of the 2020 US Open. Due to the breach, Djokovic will lose all qualification 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.
USTA statement on Novak Djokovic’s breach
Djokovic will face another fine for not holding his press conference. Shortly after the incident, the 33-year-old was seen getting into a black Tesla car and leaving Flushing Meadows.
See this post on Instagram
This whole situation has left me really sad and empty. I checked the person on the lines and the tournament told me that thank God she was feeling fine. I’m so sorry that I caused you so much stress. So involuntary. So wrong. I will not reveal your name to respect your privacy. As for disqualification, I need to go back inside myself 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 rock support, and to my fans for always being with me. Thank you and I am so sorry. This whole situation makes me really sad and empty. I reviewed how the linesman is feeling and based on the information I received, he feels fine thank goodness. I cannot reveal your name to preserve your privacy. I’m so sorry that I caused you so much stress. It was not intentional. It was wrong. I want to turn this unpleasant experience, the disqualification from the tournament, into an important life lesson, to continue growing and developing as a person, but also as a tennis player. I apologize to the organizers of the US Open. I am very grateful to my team and my family for giving me strong support, as well as my fans because they are always with me. Thank you and I’m sorry. This has been a difficult day for everyone.
Djokovic later apologized in a statement on Instagram, saying: “This whole situation has left me really sad and empty. I checked the person on the lines and the tournament told me thank God he feels good.”
“I am so sorry I caused you such stress. So unintentional. So wrong. I will not reveal your name to respect your privacy.
“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.
“I apologize to the @usopen tournament and all the 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.”
It was a shocking end to the top seed’s hopes of winning an 18th Grand Slam title and it also ended their 26-0 winning streak since the start of the year, albeit under strange circumstances.
Carreño Busta will now face the quarterfinals against Denis Shapovalov or seventh seed David Goffin.
And Djokovic’s disqualification means that for the first time since Marin Cilic won the US Open title in 2014, there will be a new men’s Grand Slam champion.
Second seed Dominic Thiem, a three-time big losing finalist, is now the highest-ranked player left.
He was criticized for hosting the Adria Tour exhibition event in June in which he and several players tested positive for COVID-19.
He then dropped a bombshell on the eve of the Open by announcing that he had resigned as chairman of the ATP Players Council to head a new Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA).
Bad luck for Novak, says his opponent Carreño Busta
Pablo Carreño Busta said that the incident was also a difficult time for him
Spanish rival Carreño Busta said it was not the way he wanted to go to the quarterfinals.
Speaking during his press conference, the 20th seed said: “I didn’t see the moment he threw the ball. I was looking at my coach, celebrating the break. When I turned around, the linesman was on the ground.
“I’m very concerned with this kind of thing, so I was a little shocked. I asked the Colombians in the crowd if the ball hit the linesman, and I was shocked. I never expected this moment playing Novak. , you know. So it was also a difficult time for me. “
I think it was bad luck. He can’t do this, but of course I think Novak never, ever wants to hit the linesman.
Pablo Carreño Busta on the Djokovic incident
And he added: “They were talking on the net, I just try to be focused if it is the case that we have to continue playing.
“It was 10 minutes or 15 minutes. But it was a bit cold, so I need to be prepared in case we have to continue. I’m just asking. [the umpire], and finally Novak shakes my hand. That’s.
“I think it was bad luck. You can’t do this, but of course I think Novak never, ever wants to hit the linesman. I’m so sorry, because it’s not the way I want to be in. [the] quarter finals. I was playing my game, I was playing really well and I was enjoying the game. “
Amazing that @DjokerNole has been predetermined. This was the correct decision by the rules, regardless of intention or not. Novak should have stayed for the press conference and apologized. We must take responsibility for our actions no matter how difficult the situation is.
– Greg Rusedski (@ GregRusedski1) September 6, 2020
Zverev in shock
Alexander Zverev said it was ‘bad luck’ for Novak
Fifth seed Alexander Zverev, who reached the last eight with a 6-2 6-2 6-1 victory over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, said he was in shock.
The German said: “He hit a tennis ball. It is very unfortunate that he hit the linesman, and especially where he hit her. There is a rule for it. I think supervisors and all of them are just doing their job. But very bad luck
for Novak.
“I don’t know what to say. I’m a little in shock right now.”
Zverev becomes one of the new contenders for the trophy, adding: “I think now is the time that it gets really interesting. I know who I can play with. I know who the rest of the guys can play with. We’ll see.” where do we go from here. “
Here are my thoughts on the Novak Djokovic flaw.
First I hope the linesman is okay.
The rule is the rule. It’s a shame for everyone involved, but in this specific situation, the default decision was the correct one. #United States Open
– Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) September 6, 2020
Maclagan: There is no choice but to use Novak by default
2:13 Miles Maclagan says referee had no choice but to suspend Djokovic from US Open
Miles Maclagan, the former coach of Laura Robson and Andy Murray, said Djokovic’s actions left him “absolutely stunned.”
Speaking to Sky Sports News, he said: “It was unintentional, but the rules state that even though it was unintentional, he hit a ball quite hard and hit a line down the throat, so he had no choice but to miss. “.
“It was probably made a little easier because of the empty stadium, I think it would have been more difficult to do it in front of 23,000 paying fans.”
“Just when you couldn’t think this tournament could get weirder, the clear favorite didn’t deliver, absolutely stunned.
“There was quite a long discussion with Djokovic and the referee that we couldn’t hear and we wondered what was going on, but in the end it was the right decision.”
Incredible what just happened on the court in the @ United States Open – Novak Djokovic missed for inadvertently but stupidly hitting a line down the throat with a ball and the referees had no choice but to miss. Wow…#sad
I’m glad the woman is okay, we must do better than that.– Martina Navratilova (@Martina) September 6, 2020
Djokovic is not the first player to default for something similar, but it happens in a Grand Slam and as a tournament favorite is an extraordinary situation.
Canadian Denis Shapovalov was breached during a Davis Cup tie against Great Britain in 2017 after smashing a ball in anger that struck referee Arnaud Gabas in the eye.
Tim Henman was breached during a doubles match in 1995
Tim Henman, meanwhile, was disqualified from Wimbledon 25 years ago for hitting a girl with a ball during a doubles match.
Speaking in Amazon primeHenman said: “It’s a huge shock. There’s no question it’s the right decision. It’s amazing for me to talk about this because it happened to me at Wimbledon in 1995. It was that moment of frustration, I hit the ball when I wasn’t looking and I hit it. to a ball in the ear.
“I was shocked, embarrassed and very disappointed.”
This year’s US Open is the first major tournament without a former Grand Slam champion in its quarterfinals since Wimbledon 2003 [won by Roger Federer].
Correct call! Impressive to see how this plays out. I hope the person is well.@DjokerNole clear favorite to win GS’s 18th margin of reduction behind Rafa / Roger. It seems the only way ND loses. The new MAJOR champion will be crowned for the first time. #crazy
– Tracy Austin (@thetracyaustin) September 6, 2020
David Nalbandian kicked a billboard during the Queen’s final in 2012, injuring a linesman and was breached.
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