Novak Djokovic has been removed from the US Open after an accidental collision between a tennis ball and a line judge's throat during his fourth-round match this past Sunday. This disqualification is a massive blow, ending a dominant 29-match winning streak and halting his quest for his 18th Grand Slam title.
The incident happened at Arthur Ashe Stadium during the first set, with Djokovic trailing Pablo Carreño Busta 6-5. As he moved toward the sideline for a changeover, he vented his frustration by smashing a ball behind him, which unfortunately struck a line judge. The official immediately fell to the court, holding her neck. Prior to this, the Serbian star had been widely expected to take home the championship.
Following the collision, a heated discussion took place at the net for approximately ten minutes. Novak Djokovic attempted to defend his actions in a meeting with Grand Slam supervisor Andreas Egli, chair umpire Aurelie Tourte, and tournament referee Soeren Friemel.
Djokovic maintained that the hit was completely unintentional. While he confessed to being frustrated—which led to him hitting the ball—he stressed that he didn't target the umpire and therefore shouldn't be disqualified. Although referee Friemel acknowledged that there was no malicious intent, he ruled that the fact remained that the official was struck and injured.
Ultimately, the match was terminated. After shaking hands with Carreño Busta, the chair umpire officially announced Djokovic's default—a tennis term meaning he had been ejected from the competition.
Immediately following the announcement, Djokovic departed the venue without speaking to the press. It wasn't until several hours later that he issued a formal apology via his social media accounts.
The USTA later confirmed that Djokovic would lose all ranking points and the $250,000 in prize money he had accumulated during the event. Furthermore, he was hit with a financial penalty for the incident.
The 33-year-old Serbian had been the frontrunner to secure his fourth US Open title, especially since major rivals like Federer and Nadal had withdrawn from the competition.