World No. 1 Djokovic apologetic after striking line judge with a ball in frustration, leading to disqualification from US Open
Novak Djokovic checks a lines judge after hitting her with a ball in reaction to losing a point against Pablo Carreno Busta during the US Open. Pic/AP, PTI
Novak Djokovic was dramatically disqualified from the US Open on Sunday after accidentally striking a female line judge with a ball in frustration during his Last 16 match, sending shock waves through the tournament.
The World No. 1 apologised for hitting the ball in disgust after losing his serve to go 6-5 down in the first set to Spain's 20th seed Pablo Carreno Busta inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
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Djokovic appeared to be looking the other way when he pulled the ball from his pocket and smacked it in the direction of the official, it hitting her full toss in the throat.
Djoko alarmed
The official cried out and began gasping for air as she collapsed to the ground. Djokovic rushed over to check on her, placing his hand on her back as she struggled to breathe. After a few minutes she got up and walked off the court looking dazed. Around 10 minutes of discussions then ensued between Djokovic and the tournament referee Soeren Friemel, during which the World No. 1 pleaded his case.
Novak Djokovic
The umpire then declared that Carreno Busta had won by default. Djokovic shook hands with his opponent before leaving the court without appearing to shake the umpire's hand.
He went then directly to his car and left the Flushing Meadows site in New York without speaking to reporters. Djokovic, 33, later posted an apology on Instagram saying he was "so sorry."
"This whole situation has left me really sad and empty," he wrote, adding that "thank God" the woman was okay. "I'm extremely sorry to have caused her such stress. So unintended. So wrong," Djokovic said. He also apologised to tournament organisers for "my behaviour" but did not say whether he thought they were right to default him.
Zero points, no prize money
The United States Tennis Association said Djokovic had been defaulted under the Grand Slam rules for "intentionally hitting a ball dangerously or recklessly within the court or hitting a ball with negligent disregard of the consequences." The body added that he would lose all ranking points and prize money from the tournament.
'Angrily and recklessly'
Referee Friemel said Djokovic told him he should not be defaulted because it was unintentional. Friemel said he agreed there was no intent but that it was a clear-cut case of Djokovic hitting the ball "angrily and recklessly." "She was clearly hurt and in pain. There was no other option," he told reporters.
The Serbian star is one of only a handful of players to be disqualified from a men's singles tournament at a Grand Slam since John McEnroe was infamously tossed from the Australian Open in 1990. Djokovic had been chasing an 18th Grand Slam title at the Billie Jean King US National Tennis Center.
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