Djokovic Disqualified For Hitting Lineswoman With A Ball During US Open, Issues Apology

“Rules are rules.” Even if you’re the world’s no. 1 tennis star. Novak Djokovic was recently disqualified from the US Open while playing at the Arthur Ashe Stadium against Spain’s Pablo Carreno-Busta, reports the Guardian. He defaulted from the ‘Round of 16’ after he struck a line judge with a ball during the game.

Novak Djokovic (-125), the #1 seed in the tournament just got defaulted from the US Open after hitting the line judge in the neck pic.twitter.com/dvJQgLPFfA

— Barstool Bets (@barstoolbets) September 6, 2020

Initially, Djokovic was breezing through when Carreno-Busta was serving at 4-5, 0-40 down. However, he squandered the three set points thus letting the Spaniard back in the first set, reports News18. Eventually losing his cool, the tennis star swatted a ball to the back of the court and struck a female line judge on her throat.

Immediately realizing his fault, Djokovic rushed to check up on her and apologized as well. He even tried to persuade the US Open referee Soeren Friemel of the case for the defense. However, he was still disqualified due to the Grand Slam rules. According to ABC News, the line umpire is doing okay.

USTA statement on default of Novak Djokovic: pic.twitter.com/dqlt0mokg9

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 6, 2020

Djokovic later issued an apology on social media too:

View this post on Instagram

This whole situation has left me really sad and empty. I checked on the lines person and the tournament told me that thank God she is feeling ok. I‘m extremely sorry to have caused her such stress. So unintended. So wrong. I’m not disclosing her name to respect her privacy. As for the disqualification, I need to go back within and work on my disappointment and turn this all into a lesson for my growth and evolution as a player and human being. I apologize to the @usopen tournament and everyone associated for my behavior. I’m very grateful to my team and family for being my rock support, and my fans for always being there with me. Thank you and I’m so sorry. Cela ova situacija me čini zaista tužnim i praznim. Proverio sam kako se oseća linijski sudija, i prema informacijama koje sam dobio, oseća se dobro, hvala Bogu. Njeno ime ne mogu da otkrijem zbog očuvanja njene privatnosti. Jako mi je žao što sam joj naneo takav stres. Nije bilo namerno. Bilo je pogrešno. Želim da ovo neprijatno iskustvo, diskvalifikaciju sa turnira, pretvorim u važnu životnu lekciju, kako bih nastavio da rastem i razvijam se kao čovek, ali i teniser. Izvinjavam se organizatorima US Opena. Veoma sam zahvalan svom timu i porodici što mi pružaju snažnu podršku, kao i mojim navijačima jer su uvek uz mene. Hvala vam i žao mi je. Bio je ovo težak dan za sve.

A post shared by Novak Djokovic (@djokernole) on Sep 6, 2020 at 3:58pm PDT

People from around the globe reacted to Novak’s disqualification:

Novak Djokovic has been defaulted from 2020 US Open.
Lesson:
-Staying calm is highly important even if you are already at the top

-Never led your disappointment turn into Anger

-Just a second of reaction has power to change your life for good or bad

Courtesy: SM pic.twitter.com/IQ9WWYasRZ

— Awanish Sharan (@AwanishSharan) September 7, 2020

Unbelievable what just happened on the court at the @usopen – Novak Djokovic defaulted for inadvertently but stupidly hitting a lineswoman in the throat with a ball and the officials had no choice but to default. Wow…#sad
Glad the woman is ok- we must do better than that.

— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) September 6, 2020

Coric on Djokovic: I feel sorry for him. At the same time, you know, that's the rules. I think he needed to be defaulted. There is not much else to say. Again, I do feel sorry for him. He's my friend. Obviously I think nobody's happy that that happened.

— Reem Abulleil (@ReemAbulleil) September 7, 2020

World number one Novak Djokovic has been disqualified from the US open after hitting a line Judge with his ball. The sad part is that, USTA confirmed that Djokovic would also lose all ranking points & any prize money he received during his time at the US Open. #comradevictorjames pic.twitter.com/nMSRWqCotN

— Victor James (@victorItaJames) September 7, 2020

Rule is a rule!
No-vacking the official. Feel for Djo. #NovakDjokovic #USOpen

— Saiyami Kher (@SaiyamiKher) September 7, 2020

Novak is out! Defaulted over angry hitting of the ball which accidentally struck a line judge injuring her. Can't believe it!!! 😫😔 Talk about giving away an almost sure 18th slam. The right decision though. #smh #novakdjokovic #USOpen #USOpen2020

— Margie 🚀+🏆׳⁷=🐐 (@marjayhan) September 6, 2020

With Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal absent from the US Open this year, this was a golden chance for Novak Djokovic. And it doesn't matter how hard he's hit the ball, rules are rules. He's blown it #USOpen2020 https://t.co/TwjVeqHaBv

— Jack Otway (@JackOtwayJourno) September 7, 2020

Who would guessed, the first player to beat Djokovic in 2020 would be…Djokovic

— Jon Wertheim (@jon_wertheim) September 6, 2020

Earlier, in a 2016 French Open against Tomas Berdych, Novak had avoided a default when his racquet nearly hit a line judge, reports BBC. The incident occurred as his racquet slipped out of his hands during an angry swipe. 

This amusingly crappy video is all I can find, a but a reminder that Novak Djokovic narrowly avoided a default for striking a line judge with his racket at 2016 French Open because of fast footwork by the line judge.

Pattern of recklessness. #USOpenpic.twitter.com/JVirYWICrw

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) September 6, 2020

As both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are not a part of the Grand Slam, Djokovic was a favourite to win the US Open. Well, what do you think about the incident? Tell us.