With no Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal in the draw, it seemed no one could beat the 17-time major champion but himself at this year's US Open. The tennis world was left in utter disbelief.
World reacts in disbelief to Djokovic's default
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Published Sep 06, 2020
Disqualifications aren't new in tennis but they are indeed rare. There was John McEnroe in 1990 who was defaulted from his fourth-round bout at the Australian Open after receiving three code violations, as well as Serena Williams similarly going out from the 2009 US Open semifinals. More recently, in 2017, Denis Shapovalov was disqualified from his Davis Cup match after striking a ball that hit umpire Arnaud Gabas directly in his left eye.
On Sunday, Novak Djokovic became a member of the most notable defaults of all time during his round of 16 match against Pablo Carreno Busta. The world No. 1 was frustrated as he walked to the bench after getting broken to go down, 5-6, in the first set. He would pull a ball out of his pocket and slap it towards the back of the court. Although it wasn't struck with as much force as Shapovalov's, it would hit the lineswoman in the throat.
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"No, of course I think this was not intentional," Carreno Busta told press (Djokovic did not speak to media). "I don't think that any one of us, of the players, do this kind of thing intentional. It's just the moment. It's just I broke him the serve, and, you know, he throw the ball."
USTA statement on default of Novak Djokovic: pic.twitter.com/dqlt0mokg9
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 6, 2020
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As the lineswoman struggled to find her breath, Djokovic ran towards her to check and make sure she was OK. She would be escorted off the court to receive treatment. Shortly thereafter, USTA officials would make the tough decision to default the No. 1 seed.
Who would guessed, the first player to beat Djokovic in 2020 would be...Djokovic
— Jon Wertheim (@jon_wertheim) September 6, 2020
Amazon Prime show Novak Djokovic getting into a car and leaving Flushing Meadows. Woeful misjudgement by the world No 1 and leader of the new player association not to front up and apologise for his actions (a 17-year-old Denis Shapovalov fronting up in 2017 comes to mind...)
— Stuart Fraser (@stu_fraser) September 6, 2020
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With no Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal in the draw, it seemed no one could beat the 17-time major champion but himself at this year's US Open. The tennis world was left in utter disbelief.
In order to get a new Grand Slam champion, men’s tennis required a default to Djokovic, a pandemic to keep Nadal in Europe and an injury to Federer.
— Mike McIntyre (@McIntyreTennis) September 6, 2020
Strange times just got stranger. #USOpen
Novak Djokovic DQ’d from U.S. Open for hitting a ball in frustration and unintentionally hitting a linesperson in the neck. Joe West throws out Mike Rizzo for not wearing a mask in an empty suite while his own mask doesn’t cover his nose.
— Joe Posnanski (@JPosnanski) September 6, 2020
2020, man.
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Throughout his career Djokovic has struggled to find a strong footing with tennis fans and it seems he could potentially find himself in a tricky spot again with viewers.
Novak Djokovic's journey from villain to delightful champion back to villain is pretty wild.
— Nicole Auerbach 😷 (@NicoleAuerbach) September 6, 2020
"You take that risk and if you do hit someone, you're going to be defaulted," James Blake said during the live broadcast. "He did and it was a very sad and unfortunate situation,"
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Playing with fire. Can be dangerous. Even if it’s just a small chance, that is the chance you take and those actions have consequences. https://t.co/2s7jTiKwUn
— James Blake (@JRBlake) September 6, 2020
Djokovic has thrown and hit balls in anger before, including a close call at the Australian Open in 2016, so it felt like it might only be a matter of time before it cost him.
Does Novak need player representation right now?
— Pam Shriver (@PHShriver) September 6, 2020
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Just a couple of points earlier, Djokovic struck a ball much harder into the court's side wall. Dealing with left shoulder pain from a fall in the same game, it was clear the Serbian was emotional.
Here are my thoughts on the Novak Djokovic default.
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) September 6, 2020
First I hope the line judge is okay.
The rule is the rule. It is unfortunate for everyone involved, but in this specific situation the default was the right call. #USOpen
According to the USTA's statement, Djokovic might have not had any poor intention, but he did hit the ball with negligent disregard of consequences. As Billie Jean King said in her tweet, "the rule is the rule."
Djokovic skipped press but released a statement, and would come out in defense of the lineswoman who was getting some flack on social media.
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Carreno Busta now reaches the US Open quarterfinals where he will face Shapovalov.
In order to get a new Grand Slam champion, men’s tennis required a default to Djokovic, a pandemic to keep Nadal in Europe and an injury to Federer.
— Mike McIntyre (@McIntyreTennis) September 6, 2020
Strange times just got stranger. #USOpen
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Novak Djokovic DQ’d from U.S. Open for hitting a ball in frustration and unintentionally hitting a linesperson in the neck. Joe West throws out Mike Rizzo for not wearing a mask in an empty suite while his own mask doesn’t cover his nose.
— Joe Posnanski (@JPosnanski) September 6, 2020
2020, man.
Throughout his career Djokovic has struggled to find a strong footing with tennis fans and it seems he could potentially find himself in a tricky spot again with viewers.
Novak Djokovic's journey from villain to delightful champion back to villain is pretty wild.
— Nicole Auerbach 😷 (@NicoleAuerbach) September 6, 2020
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"You take that risk and if you do hit someone, you're going to be defaulted," James Blake said during the live broadcast. "He did and it was a very sad and unfortunate situation,"
Playing with fire. Can be dangerous. Even if it’s just a small chance, that is the chance you take and those actions have consequences. https://t.co/2s7jTiKwUn
— James Blake (@JRBlake) September 6, 2020
Djokovic has thrown and hit balls in anger before, including a close call at the Australian Open in 2016, so it felt like it might only be a matter of time before it cost him.
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Does Novak need player representation right now?
— Pam Shriver (@PHShriver) September 6, 2020
Just a couple of points earlier, Djokovic struck a ball much harder into the court's side wall. Dealing with left shoulder pain from a fall in the same game, it was clear the Serbian was emotional.
Here are my thoughts on the Novak Djokovic default.
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) September 6, 2020
First I hope the line judge is okay.
The rule is the rule. It is unfortunate for everyone involved, but in this specific situation the default was the right call. #USOpen
Advertising
According to the USTA's statement, Djokovic might have not had any poor intention, but he did hit the ball with negligent disregard of consequences. As Billie Jean King said in her tweet, "the rule is the rule."
Djokovic skipped press but released a statement, and would come out in defense of the lineswoman who was getting some flack on social media.
Carreno Busta now reaches the US Open quarterfinals where he will face Shapovalov.