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Novak Djokovic has issued an apology after he was disqualified from the US Open for hitting a referee with a ball.
The world number one had blown a golden opportunity to win the first set of his match against Pablo Carreño Busta on Sunday when he hit a ball in frustration behind him. He hit a liner woman in the throat, and she fell to the ground in pain. Djokovic immediately rushed to help him, but after a 10-minute discussion with tournament officials, he missed the match and his chance to win his fourth US Open title.
Djokovic did not attend the post-match press conference, but did issue a statement on Instagram later Sunday.
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.
“This whole situation has left me really sad and empty,” he wrote. “I checked the person on the lines and the tournament told me that thank God she feels good. 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. “
The tournament referee, Soeren Friemel, said he “had no choice” but to disqualify the Serbian, “due to the fact that the ball was hit with rage, recklessness, that it went straight to the throat of the line referee,” although he believed that the 33-year-old had no intention of hurting.
“There are two factors, one is the action and the result,” he said. “And the action – although there was no intention – the result of hitting a linesman and [her] being clearly hurt is the essential factor in the decision-making process here. “
Djokovic has struggled with his temper in the past, especially in the ATP finals in 2016 when he hit a ball in anger that nearly hit a spectator. In Sunday’s statement, the 33-year-old said he would evaluate his behavior in the future.
“As for 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 wrote. “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. “
Busta, meanwhile, expressed his sympathy for his opponent and supported the referees’ decision to suspend Djokovic. “The rules are the rules,” he said after the game. “The referee and the supervisor do the right thing, but it’s not easy, is it?”
Former British number one Tim Henman, who was disqualified from Wimbledon in 1995 after hitting a ball under similar circumstances, said on Amazon Prime: “You hit that ball aiming for the back fence … but you have to be responsible for your behavior.”
Alexander Zverev, now one of the favorites to claim the men’s title, said the draw was “interesting” after Djokovic’s departure. “It is very unfortunate, very unfortunate,” he added. “The decision was made by the supervisors and, like I said, they are just doing their job.”
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