The world number one ranked tennis player, Novak Djokovic has been kicked out of Flushing Meadows after he accidentally hit a ball that struck a female line judge, Laura Clark, in the throat.
Novak Djokovic was disqualified even after initially pleading that the woman was not seriously hurt. He eventually walked off and later apologised for ‘causing her such stress’, saying his swipe was ‘so unintended, so wrong’.
A massive favourite for the tournament, the 33-year-old Serb had already been showing signs at frustration at the resistance being put up by Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta when he was broken for 5-6 in the opening set.
The line judge was named by relatives as Laura Clark, from Owensboro, Kentucky, with friends telling WKBR that she was not seriously hurt.
While Djokovic was clearly not aiming for her, the ball hit the line Judge, Clark, who keeled over. The rules are quite clear: he had to go.
Referee Soeren Friemel was summoned onto court inside the deserted Arthur Ashe Stadium by umpire Aurelie Tourte. Djokovic was told, after plenty of debate, that there was no option.
He could be heard pleading for leniency, all to no avail.
‘She doesn’t have to go to the hospital for this,’ he said as he stood at the net, a shocked look across his face. ‘You’re going to choose a default in this situation? My career, Grand Slam, centre stage?’
Friemel, backed up by senior official Andreas Egli, held firm, even when he added: ‘You have a game penalty, set penalty, many options.’
‘Novak was angry. He hit the ball recklessly, angrily back. And taking everything into consideration, there was no discretion involved,’ Friemel said.
‘Defaulting a player at a Grand Slam is a very important, very tough decision. And for that reason, it doesn’t matter if it’s on Ashe, if it’s No 1, or any other player on any other court, you need to get it right.’
Djokovic quickly left the stadium afterwards without attending the mandatory press conference to explain himself.
That refusal from the newly self-appointed head of a players’ union quickly drew criticism from ex British number one Greg Rusedski, among others.
‘It’s a very difficult situation but he should have come into press, taken responsibility and apologised for the situation,’ Rusedski told Amazon Prime.
Hours later Djokovic released a statement that read:
‘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 behaviour. 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.’