Novak Djokovic Gets Defaulted At US Open For Hitting Lineswoman At US Open

by Staff | September 6th, 2020, 6:16 pm
  • 9 Comments

Novak Djokovic’s 2020 just cratered. The world No. 1 and prohibitive tournament favorite was defaulted today from the tournament after using his racquet to fire a ball at the backstop in disgust, but the ball hit a lineswoman leading to an immediate default.

USTA Statement:
“In accordance with the Grand Slam rulebook, following his actions of intentionally hitting a ball dangerously or recklessly within the court or hitting a ball with negligent disregard of the consequences, the US Open tournament referee defaulted Novak Djokovic from the 2020 US Open. Because he was defaulted, Djokovic will lose all ranking points earned at the US Open and will be fined the prize money won at the tournament in addition to any or all fines levied with respect to the offending incident.”

Djokovic will lose his points and prize money and will likely face further sanctions.


Djokovic left the site without speaking to the press. His 2020 season, though going undefeated until now, will be marked by a failed Adria Tour, a positive COVID test and a a lukewarm bid to start his own players association.

The tournament is left before the quarterfinals with no Grand Slam champions in the field. So after six years, a new Grand Slam champion will finally be crowned.


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9 Comments for Novak Djokovic Gets Defaulted At US Open For Hitting Lineswoman At US Open

Wog Boy Says:

Good job Nole, you really know how to fu.k up, on to the European clay👍

September 6th, 2020 at 7:34 pm


Doug Gallagher Says:

The only issue I have surrounding this whole incident is the line judge appears to be staring directly at the ball coming at her and makes no attempt to avoid it. This begs the question as to why? Did she not see the ball or did she have another reason for not moving? Also, I agree with P. McEnroe. Line judges are no longer needed at “Slams” or anywhere else hawk-eye is available.

September 6th, 2020 at 8:12 pm


chrisford1 Says:

Djokovic has flirted with this before, been lucky, especially in the 2016 French Open when a ball boy dodged a racket Djokovic sent skittering along the clay that caught an edge and went airborne. His luck ran out.
Huge moment in his career and legacy, killed from lack of self control.
And while Djokovic can’t criticize the inattentive old woman without seeming like a spoilsport, others will. A man or an alert young woman would have just caught it, thrown it to the ball bay, and that would have been it.
And others will look and see if the old lady did a flopping act worthy of an Italian football player writhing on the ground from the pain of the breeze of a player that cleanly passed them. To me, that ball had no velocity and hit the side of her neck, not throat.

September 6th, 2020 at 10:44 pm


Daniel Says:

Still can’t believw he let this chance by with a childish act. Only maybe Thiem stop him in finals.
Only silverlining is he has more rest for clay and maybe get that 2nd French Open and 2nd Career Slam. Heard he will play Rome.

September 7th, 2020 at 9:36 am


Giles Says:

He proved what a shite bag he is. Well deserved .
He should do this more often. After all this is who he is!! Shameless!!

September 7th, 2020 at 9:58 am


skeezer Says:

His peers have lit him up on this antic. This guy tries to act like a tennis professional but once again proves otherwise. Not surprised by this unfortunate event. He can’t even get up the courage to do a presser like a 17 yr old did. Too bad he’ll go down as a tainted champion, no matter how many more titles he gets.

September 7th, 2020 at 10:11 am


Seth Says:

You guys are going are really suggesting the line judge deserves blame for not moving out of the way?

Gross.

September 7th, 2020 at 10:35 am


tennismonger Says:

Sure cf1, she’s just another one of those crisis actors that populate your delusional world. But I guess that what “people are sayin’…”

September 7th, 2020 at 2:23 pm


Truth Says:

For a man of high tennis intelligence, he has crap for common sense. Shame on you, insane Djoker.
What a waste. The other matches are just awfully boring. Errors all over the place.

September 7th, 2020 at 4:04 pm

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