Novak Djokovic DISQUALIFIED from US Open for accidentally hitting a ball at a line judge

Novak Djokovic has been disqualified from the US Open for accidentally hitting a ball at a line judge in his round of 16 tie against Pablo Carreno Busta.

The World No1 was about to change ends after a game and then he hit the ball towards a line judge without looking and hit the girl in the face.   

The Serbian was serving well and playing great tennis and finally pounced on Carreno Busta’s serve to generate triple set point at 5-4, 0-40.

Novak Djokovic has been disqualified from the US Open for hitting a ball at a line judge

But Djokovic failed to convert three set points and lost six points in a row and then fell onto his shoulder at 5-5, 0-15. 

The mutliple grand-slam champion then called the trainer on and after resuming lost his service game.

Djokovic was then frustrated and fired a ball behind which struck the lineswoman in the throat.

The lineswoman yelled out and fell to the ground and then was helped by umpire Aurelie Tourte and Djokovic.

Djokovic, of Serbia, checks a lineswoman after hitting her with a ball at the US Open

After a 10-minute discussion with Carreno Busta sitting quickly on his bench, Djokovic was defaulted and kicked out of the tournament.

During the discussion Djokovic was furious with the decision as he yelled at the umpire saying: ‘She doesn’t have to go to the hospital for this. 

‘You’re going to choose a default in this situation? My career, grand slam, center stage.’

Djokovic walks off the court after being defaulted due to inadvertently striking a lineswoman

This means on the men’s side of the US Open, there is no grand slam winner left in the tournament and Djokovic was heavy favourite to win the American tournament again this year.

The last Slam without at least one of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic in the semi-finals was at Roland Garros in 2004.

Federer is out injured and Nadal did not want to compete amid safety concerns surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.  

Djokovic was then frustrated and fired a ball behind which struck the lineswoman in the throat