Novak Djokovic opens US Open after line judge’s accidental hit

“There is a rule for that. Alexander Zverev, a German player looking inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, said the supervisors and all of them are doing their job but I think it’s very unfortunate for Novak.” He said: ” Talking about a few inches, he’s been fine. “

Grand Slam rules prohibit players from abusing balls as well as sportsman-like behavior, and tournament officials have the power to disqualify players immediately if a case is deemed sufficient.

Gayle David Bradshaw, retired ATP Tour vice president for rules and competition, said players can be defaulted if someone is injured on the court “for throwing a racquet without intent to hit the ball or cause harm”. “In this case, there was no intent, but there was harm, and the authorities had no choice but to do what they did,” he said.

The United States Tennis Association has stated that he will lose all the ranking points he earned at the US Open this year due to the default and will be fined the prize money he earned in addition to the fine he will incur due to the incident. .

Due to a temporary change in the ranking system to adjust to the five-month tour break, Djokovic will be able to count his results from last year’s US Open in his rankings. He retired in 2019 in the fourth round.

Djokovic, 33, has won five of his last seven Grand Slam singles titles and dropped just one set in his first three matches at the US Open. But the first set against Carreno Busta was a tough affair, and Djokovic was tested. At an earlier stage on the set, he cracked the ball in frustration towards the court, not hitting anyone.

But while working at 5-5, he fell hard on the second point as he changed direction and grabbed the win at his left shoulder. He was treated in his chair, trailed 0-30 and returned to the court and then lost the game, looking uncomfortable with the backhand of both his hands and resorting to one hand drop shot on both occasions.