Novak Djokovic’s disqualification from the United States Open after hitting a line judge in the neck with a ball that he struck toward the back of the court in frustration is perhaps the most costly one in tennis history.
It fell under the Grand Slam rule book’s definitions of “ball abuse” and “unsportsmanlike conduct,” giving officials two options in the rules they could cite to punish Djokovic.
Ultimately, Djokovic was ousted from the tournament — tennis calls it defaulting from a match — by Soeren Friemel, the U.S. Open tournament referee, for unsportsmanlike conduct, the broader of the two categories.
In a statement, the United States Tennis Association said: “In accordance with the Grand Slam rule book, 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 U.S. Open tournament referee defaulted Novak Djokovic from the 2020 U.S. Open.”
Despite the clarity of the rules, Djokovic pleaded his case for several minutes, saying that the line judge would not need to go to a hospital. Friemel responded to him that the consequences might have been different had the line judge not collapsed to the ground and stayed there for a prolonged time in clear distress.
Djokovic also asked Friemel why he could not simply receive a point penalty or game penalty instead of being defaulted. Friemel did not, in fact, have an intermediate option. The code of conduct is an escalating scale in tennis with clearly defined steps: a warning followed by a point penalty followed by a game penalty, followed by a default. But the rules also allow officials the option of proceeding straight to a default after any rule violation if it is deemed sufficiently egregious.
As Djokovic had not yet received a warning during the match, Friemel’s only options were to warn him or default him: a part of the rule that Djokovic did not appear to be aware of. But after investigating on court, Friemel did not consider a warning because he concluded that the incident clearly warranted a default.
“In the end, in any code violation there is a part of discretion to it, but in this instance, I don’t think there was any chance of any opportunity of any other decision other than defaulting Novak, because the facts were so clear, so obvious,” Friemel said on Sunday night. “The line umpire was clearly hurt and Novak was angry, he hit the ball recklessly, angrily back and taking everything into consideration, there was no discretion involved.”
Djokovic had earned $250,000 for reaching the fourth round of the U.S. Open.
Here’s a quick look at the various rules at play:
Abuse of Balls
Players shall not violently, dangerously or with anger hit, kick or throw a tennis ball within the precincts of the tournament site except in the reasonable pursuit of a point during a match (including warm-up). Violation of this Section shall subject a player to fine up to $20,000 for each violation. In addition, if such violation occurs during a match (including the warmup) the player shall be penalised in accordance with the Point Penalty Schedule hereinafter set forth. For the purposes of this Rule, abuse of balls is defined as intentionally hitting a ball out of the enclosure of the court, hitting a ball dangerously or recklessly within the court or hitting a ball with negligent disregard of the consequences.
Unsportsmanlike Conduct
Players shall at all times conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner and give due regard to the authority of officials and the rights of opponents, spectators and others. Violation of this Section shall subject a player to a fine up to $20,000 for each violation. In addition, if such violation occurs during a match (including the warmup), the player shall be penalised in accordance with the Point Penalty Schedule hereinafter set forth. In circumstances that are flagrant and particularly injurious to the success of a tournament, or are singularly egregious, a single violation of this Section shall also constitute the Major Offence of “Aggravated Behaviour” and shall be subject to the additional penalties hereinafter set forth.
Incidents of tennis players striking officials are rare, but not unprecedented. There were two high-profile incidents of similar defaults in men’s tennis, though none as significant as the disqualification of a top-seeded player at a Grand Slam event.
In a 2017 Davis Cup match in Ottawa, Denis Shapovalov, then 17, whacked a ball in anger that struck the chair umpire Arnaud Gabas in the eye and left his vision temporarily damaged.
In the 2012 final of the Queen’s Club tournament in London, the Argentine David Nalbandian kicked a wooden box that was sitting in front of a seated line judge into his shin, bloodying the man’s leg.
With Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer not competing, and Marin Cilic and Andy Murray having lost in the first week, Djokovic’s exit leaves the tournament without any men who have previously won a Grand Slam title. There will be a first-time Grand Slam singles champion in men’s tennis for the first time since Cilic at the 2014 U.S. Open.
Djokovic is not the first decorated champion to have a tournament end in controversy. At the 2009 U.S. Open, Serena Williams was given a point penalty while down match point, ending the match, after threatening to shove a ball down the throat of a line judge who had called her for a foot fault.
At the 1990 Australian Open, John McEnroe was defaulted from his fourth-round match for profane verbal abuse of officials.
Christopher Clarey contributed reporting.
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