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Topics: Tennis, US Open, Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz
Ben McCrum
Tennis great Novak Djokovic once disqualified from the US Open mid-match after a controversial incident with a lineswoman.
On Sunday, the final tennis major of 2025 will get underway as the US Open starts at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York.
Several of the biggest names in the sport are set to compete in the tournament, with the likes of Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and former world number one Jack Draper all hoping to take home the trophy.
As it stands, current world no.1 Sinner is the favourite to win the US Open, despite the fact that he recently was forced to pull out of the Cincinatti Open final against Alcaraz due to illness.
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But one player who may not be looking forward to the competition is Djokovic, as it may bring up bad memories of him being disqualified back in 2020 following an incident with a lineswoman during his match.
Off the back of his win in the Australian Open earlier that year, Djokovic was the odds-on favourite to win his 18th Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2020.
However, things didn't go to plan for the Serbian player as he was ejected from the tournament in the fourth round after he accidentally hit a line judge in the throat with a ball smacked in anger.
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Djokovic was facing opponent Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta in the fourth round of the major but found himself down 6-5 in the first set, leading to him hitting a ball behind him in frustration.
Unfortunately for Djokobic, and the woman involved, the ball hit the lineswoman behind him directly in the throat, causing her to immediately fall to the ground in pain.
Realising what he had done, Djokovic quickly ran over to check on the judge as she received medical attention before being taken off the court, unable to continue her role.
Despite pleading his case, the moment led to Djokovic being disqualified in the match, and therefore eliminated from the tournament, due to a strict rule stated in the ITF's Grand Slam rule book.
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It reads: "Players shall not at any time physically abuse any official, opponent, spectator or other person within the precincts of the tournament site...
"The Referee in consultation with the Grand Slam Chief of Supervisors may declare a default for either a single violation of this Code or pursuant to the Point Penalty Schedule set out above."
Shortly after his removal from the competition was announced, Djokovic took to social media to apologise for the lines judge and the US Open for his behaviour, assuring fans it was completely accidental.
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Posting on Instagram, he wrote: "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 @usopen 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."