Novak Djokovic is DISQUALIFIED from US Open for whacking a ball at a line judge as world No 1 fumes at umpire for decision: 'She doesn't have to go to the hospital... my career, grand slam, centre stage'

Novak Djokovic and his petulant tendencies flirted with disaster once too often on Sunday night when he was sensationally defaulted from the US Open.
The world number one was kicked out of Flushing Meadows as, in a flash of temper that has become too common, he angrily swiped a ball away that struck a female line judge, Laura Clark, in the throat.
After initially pleading that the woman was not seriously hurt, Djokovic eventually walked off and later apologised for 'causing her such stress', saying his swipe was 'so unintended, so wrong'.  
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 World No 1 hits the ball behind him in frustration, striking the line judge standing at the back of the court
The World No 1 hits the ball behind him in frustration, striking the line judge standing at the back of the court
Djokovic, of Serbia, checks on a lineswoman after hitting her with a ball at the US Open
Djokovic, of Serbia, checks on a lineswoman after hitting her with a ball at the US Open
The line judge, Laura Clark, was clutching her throat after she was hit by Djokovic's careless whack
The line judge, Laura Clark, was clutching her throat after she was hit by Djokovic's careless whack 

Novak Djokovic of Serbia checks on the line judge who was hit with the ball during his fourth round clash at the US Open

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 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.

Novak Djokovic has been disqualified from the US Open for hitting a ball at a line judge
Novak Djokovic has been disqualified from the US Open for hitting a ball at a line judge
Djokovic shakes hands with Pablo Carreno Busta, of Spain, after defaulting the match
Djokovic shakes hands with Pablo Carreno Busta, of Spain, after defaulting the match

Line judge previously suffered a busted lip from 130mph serve  

The line judge at the centre of Djokovic's disqualification was named last night as Laura Clark from Owensboro, Kentucky. 
After becoming enthralled by watching 1990s tennis stars Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras, Clark worked her way up from junior and college tournaments to officiate at the sport's showpiece events such as the US Open and Davis Cup. 
Speaking to local magazine Owensboro Living in 2014, Clark said she had previously had a lip busted by a 130mph serve at a tournament in Louisville. 
'The only times we are seen by the people are during our mess-ups. Period,' she said. 
'The first time you are on a big court it is terrifying, and it is the coolest, most terrifying experience in the whole world. You are shaking so hard and you're sure they can see you shaking.'
However, she said she sympathised with top players and the pressure they were under - saying there are 'no calls that are not significant'. 
Clark has sat in the umpire's chair and acted as tournament referee as well as being a line judge, saying that being a tennis official is 'not something you are going to make a huge amount of money doing' - but adding that 'I would do it for free'. 
Friends said last night that she was not seriously hurt by the ball to the throat, and Djokovic offered her an apology for having 'caused her so much stress'.  
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.
Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios asked a question on Twitter: 'Swap me for jokers (Djokovic) incident. 'Accidentally hitting the ball kid in the throat' how many years would I be banned for?'
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.'
This was arguably the most dramatic disqualification since British umpire Gerry Armstrong, now the Wimbledon Referee, booted John McEnroe from the Australian Open 1990 for verbal abuse. 
McEnroe also criticised Djokovic last night for leaving the grounds without a press conference, telling him he should 'man up' and apologise in person rather than on Instagram. 
'He's got a lot of things going for him, but this is a stain that he's not going to be able to erase,' said McEnroe, who was known for his own volatile behaviour on the court. 
Asked whether he thought Djokovic should have been allowed to continue to play, Carreno Busta shrugged and replied: 'Well, the rules are the rules. ... The referee and the supervisor (did) the right thing, but it's not easy to do it.' Djokovic walks off the court after being defaulted due to inadvertently striking a lineswoman
Djokovic walks off the court after being defaulted due to inadvertently striking a lineswoman

How Djokovic arrogantly IGNORED warnings over whacking balls in 2016

Novak Djokovic showed little concern over his behaviour in 2016 after hitting the ball into the crowd at the ATP Finals - months after he came close to hitting an official with his racquet. 
The clip, which sees Djokovic respond angrily to a reporter who called him out for his conduct, has come back to haunt the World No 1 after he was disqualified from the US Open. 
Djokovic brushed off concerns over his conduct in 2016
Djokovic brushed off concerns over his conduct in 2016
It starts with the journalist mentioning an incident at the French Open in the same year, where Djokovic flung his racquet backwards and nearly hit a line judge. 
He is then asked whether he is concerned about his behaviour after his three-set win over Dominic Thiem in London, with a reporter asking 'Does it concern you one day that will cost you dearly? If it hit someone today, is that something you've got to address'. 
Djokovic begins to laugh and says: 'You guys are unbelievable. You're always picking these kind of things.'
When told that he 'keeps doing these things', he hits back: 'I keep doing these things? Why don't I get suspended then?'. 
The journalist then reminds him a spectator could have been seriously hurt if the ball had struck someone, to which he replied: 'It could have been, yes. It could have snowed in O2 arena, as well, but it didn't.'  
It comes four years after Novak Djokovic bullishly dismissed concerns over his on-court frustrations in an angry exchange with a reporter.
The Serbian had hit a ball into the crowd during his 3-set win over Dominic Thiem. Months early he nearly hit an official after throwing his raquet in the French Open and he was asked if he feared his behaviour would one day 'cost him dearly'.
He laughed off his question and said: 'You guys are unbelievable. You're always picking these kind of things.'
When informed he could have seriously hurt a spectator, he replied: 'It could have been, yes. It could have snowed in O2 arena, as well, but it didn't.
'I'm the only player that shows his frustration on the court? That's what you are saying? It is not an issue for me. It's not the first time I did it.' 
Djokovic had looked extremely likely to add to his seventeen Major titles before his disqualification at the US Open and had been in imperious form, boasting a 26-0 record for 2020 which may have extended to the end of this strange season. 
The disqualification is a massive blow to his hopes of usurping Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, both absent from Flushing Meadows, who stand on nineteen and twenty Grand Slam titles respectively. 
At the age of 33 he can hardly afford to spurn such opportunities, and being fined his £123,000 prize money is the least of it. 
One upshot of the drama is that there will be a long-awaited new Grand Slam champion in men's tennis for the first time since Marin Cilic won in New York six years ago.
There appears little question that Djokovic's angry swish of the racket did not mean to injure anyone. Immediately that he saw he had hit his unintended target he gestured his apology, knowing that he was in deep trouble.
Tim Henman, who was defaulted from Wimbledon 25 years ago for a similar mishap, said Djokovic's expulsion was a 'massive shock' but 'there's no doubt it's the right decision'. 
'It's the right decision. It happened to me at Wimbledon 1995 in the same scenario, You have to be responsible for your actions, when you look at the facts you have to be defaulted,' Henman said. 
This time it was borne of someone who sometimes acts as if he is above the sport, as he tries to cement a legacy comparable to that of Nadal and Federer.
Djokovic was then frustrated and fired a ball behind which struck the lineswoman in the throat
Djokovic was then frustrated and fired a ball behind which struck the lineswoman in the throat
Djokovic has sailed close to the wind many times before, with instances of him thrashing balls away in anger that have gone into the crowd, or snatching towels from ballkids in an aggressive manner.
There was a notable incident in 2016 at the French Open when he played Czech Tomas Berdych. He hurled his racket into the clay in the direction of a line judge, and when it bounced up it was only thanks to the official's reflexes that is missed his head. He could have been gone there as well, and not gone on to win his solitary title at Roland Garros.
In a way this is an appropriate end to a lockdown summer that has badly tarnished the reputation of a highly intelligent, driven and complex man who is, without doubt, among the greatest players ever.
Djokovic talks with the umpire after inadvertently hitting a line judge with a ball on Sunday
Djokovic talks with the umpire after inadvertently hitting a line judge with a ball on Sunday
He organised the disastrous Adria Tour around the Balkans, which needed to abandoned when numerous participants, including himself and his wife, tested positive for Coronavirus.
The whole guiding principle behind the exhibition series seemed to be that Covid 19 was something that could be overlooked, and there was a marked lack of social distancing running through the whole production. It overshadowed his substantial charitable donations to Covid charities.
Before that he was criticised by one of Serbia's top government epidemiologists for his anti-vaccine views.
He must now decide on his next move ahead of the French Open, which is due to happen later this month. Number two seed Dominic Thiem becomes the new favourite for the US Open, and a fresh champion is guaranteed.
Djokovic (right) tries to help after hitting the line judge with a ball in the throat at the US Open
Djokovic (right) tries to help after hitting the line judge with a ball in the throat at the US Open

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