Novak Djokovic Get DISQUALIFIED From US Open After Hitting Judge With A Ball
Zerina K.
Posted On September 7, 2020
“I‘m extremely sorry to have caused her such stress. So unintended. So wrong.”, said Novak.
Novak Djokovic was sensationally booted out of the US Open. The Serbian injured a judge when he smacked the ball at her throat by mistake. Djokovic looked horrified after the incident.
According to reports courtside, he said: “She doesn’t have to go to the hospital for this. You’re going to choose a default in this situation? My career, grand slam, centre stage”
🚨NOVAK DJOKOVIC DISQUALIFIED 🚨
After losing a point, the world No.1 hits a ball towards the back of the court and strikes a line judge…#USOpen pic.twitter.com/52NYof5jgV
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) September 6, 2020
Djokovic later apologised in a 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 apologise to the US Open 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.”
According to the rulebook, “players shall not at any times physically abuse any official, opponent, spectator or other person within the precincts of the tournament site”.
It adds that: “physical abuse is the unauthorised touching of an official, opponent, spectator or other person”.
Former British No1 Tim Henman said: “It’s a massive shock.”
“It’s the right decision. It happened to me at Wimbledon in 1995 in a similar scenario.”
“That moment of frustration when I hit the ball away when not looking. I hit a ball girl in the ear.”
“You look at Djokovic. He was frustrated. He wasn’t aiming for her. But you have to be responsible for your actions.”
“When you look at the facts, there is no alternative than to be defaulted.”
“He has hit that ball aiming for the back fence, he’s not aiming for anyone. He has hit the line judge in the throat. It only leaves one option for the referee.”
“You look at Djokovic. He was frustrated. He wasn’t aiming for her. But you have to be responsible for your actions.”
It has been a disastrous summer for Djokovic given he was heavily criticised for testing positive for Covid-19 alongside other tennis stars.
