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Jonathan White

World No 1 tennis star Novak Djokovic has apologised on social media following his dismissal from the US Open for hitting a line judge with a ball.
“This whole situation has left me really sad and empty,” the top seed at Flushing Meadows wrote on Instagram on Sunday night, several hours after the event.
Serbian superstar Djokovic had hit the line judge with a ball during his fourth round match against Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta after the Spaniard broke his serve.
The incident led to Djokovic defaulting the match, with Carreno Busta leading 6-5 in the first set.
Djokovic line judge subjected to vile social media abuse
“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.”

Top-seeded Novak Djokovic was defaulted from his fourth-round match at the #USOpen after he accidentally hit a line judge with a tennis ball Sunday. pic.twitter.com/TTstxZB2Jw
— ESPN (@espn) September 6, 2020

Djokovic was disqualified from the tournament after discussions with officials and swiftly left the venue.
“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 @usopen tournament and everyone associated for my behaviour.




















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



“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.”
Djokovic had been unbeaten in 2020, with a 26-0 record and was the clear favourite to win his 18th grand slam event.
His apology received widespread support from his army of loyal fans, but he was criticised for his immediate response to the line judge being hit.

Djokovic has had issues with this previously in his career, throwing his racquet etc very close to linespeople/ballkids.

Debate is still ongoing with officials. #USOpen
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) September 6, 2020

“She doesn’t have to go to the hospital for this.” – Djokovic trying to downplay the effects of hitting the lineswoman, saying she wasn’t seriously injured,” New York Times tennis correspondent Ben Rothenberg reported on Twitter.
“You’re going to choose a default in this situation? My career, grand slam, center stage.”
The 33-year-old created a breakaway player association, the PTPA, before the US Open.


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US Open (tennis)

US Open: Novak Djokovic apologises after being disqualified for hitting line judge

Novak Djokovic checks on the line judge he hit with the ball, leading to his exit from the US Open. Photo: EPA

US Open: Novak Djokovic line judge subjected to vile social media abuse

Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tend to the line judge who was struck by a ball hit by Djokovic at Flushing Meadows. Photo: USA Today

Novak Djokovic disqualified from US Open after hitting lineswoman with ball

Novak Djokovic of Serbia and a tournament official tend to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic on Sunday. Photo: Danielle Parhizkaran/USA Today

Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, shakes hands with Pablo Carreno Busta, of Spain, after defaulting the match during the fourth round of the US Open tennis championships, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020, in New York. Djokovic inadvertently hit a line judge with a ball after hitting the ball in reaction to losing a point to Carreno Busta. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

US Open: Serena Williams through to last-16 as fresh controversy hits

Serena Williams gestures to her daughter in the stands after her win against Sloane Stephens. Photo: USA Today

(FILES) In this file photo taken on January 31, 2020 Hungary's Timea Babos (L) and France's Kristina Mladenovic (R) pose with the championship trophy during the awards ceremony after their victory against Taiwan's Hsieh Su-wei and Czech Republic's Barbora Strycova during the women's doubles final on day twelve of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne. - The US Open was plunged into controversy on September 5, 2020, after New York health officials ordered the women's top doubles pairing of Mladenovic and Babo be withdrawn from the tournament due to possible exposure to coronavirus. The pair was instructed to quarantine for coming in contact with Benoit Paire, who tested positive for COVID-19 last weekend. (Photo by Manan VATSYAYANA / AFP) / IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE

US Open: Naomi Osaka beats teen Marta Kostyuk, Novak Djokovic extends winning streak

Naomi Osaka throws her racquet in her US Open match against Marta Kostyuk. Photo: EPA

Novak Djokovic’s PTPA power play is tone deaf amid coronavirus crisis and calls for social change

Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates his win over Milos Raonic of Canada in the men's singles final of the Western & Southern Open. Photo: AFP

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 29: Novak Djokovic of Serbia poses with the winner's trophy after defeating Milos Raonic of Canada in the men's singles final of the Western & Southern Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 29, 2020 in the Queens borough of New York City. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Sport

Tennis


World No 1 and tournament favourite is defaulted after hitting official with ball in match against Pablo Carreno Busta
‘This whole situation has left me really sad and empty,’ he writes on social media several hours after leaving event



‘This whole situation has left me really sad and empty,’ Djokovic writes on social media after leaving Flushing Meadows.
