It seems like Novak Djokovic is never too far away from controversy nowadays - and that theory was proved correct at Roland Garros.
For the second time in two weeks, the Serbian star somehow managed to hit a line judge in the face with a tennis ball.
The world number one made headlines at the US Open for all the wrong reasons after he was disqualified from the tournament for rifling a ball into the throat of a line judge in what looked like a show of frustration.
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Djokovic's disqualification subsequently ended his unbeaten streak for 2020.
And now it appears he's found himself in a similar situation at the French Open - one which he has since described as an "awkward moment of deja vu".
Despite going on to clinch an emphatic 6-4 6-3 6-3 victory against Karen Khachanov to advance to the quarter-finals of the competition, Djokovic couldn't escape the controversy.
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As Khachanov served, 33-year-old Djokovic looked as though the shot had beaten him with ease.
Reaching out in an attempt to return the serve, the Serb couldn't quite make the right connection and the ball went ricocheting off the frame of his racket.
Unfortunately for Djokovic, the ball then flew into the face of a line judge who was sitting court-side.
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It looked like a complete accident and Djokovic quickly apologised.
As for the line judge, the shot looked like it hurt at first but it wasn't long before he shrugged it off.
Unlike at the US Open, the Roland Garros umpires decided not to punish Djokovic for the incident as it was clearly accidental.
Djokovic kept his focus to advance to the next round - but the surreal moment had the 17-time Grand Slam winner worried for a split second.
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"My gosh, it was very awkward deja vu," he said after the match.
"I'm actually trying to find the lines person and see if he's okay because I saw he had a little bit of a bruise, like redness, in that place in the head where the ball hit him.
"I hope he's fine. I mean, he definitely dealt with it in a very strong and brave way. But it was a hit because I was very close.
"Obviously because of what happened in New York, people I guess are going to make the story out of this.
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"It has happened to me and to many other players in the last 15 years that I've been on the tour.
"I've seen it a lot when the ball ricochets from the racquet and the frame, hits someone in the stands, or someone that is close to you or line umpire. Yeah, it was a very awkward situation."
The Djoker now faces Pablo Carreno Busta in the quarter-finals of the French Open.
Bizarrely, Busta is the same man who was present during the notorious line judge incident at Flushing Meadows.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Tennis, Novak Djokovic, Australia
