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Novak Djokovic Disqualified From US Open After Hitting Lineswoman In Neck With Ball

2020 US Open - Day 7

(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Lauryn Overhultz Columnist
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Tennis star Novak Djokovic was disqualified Sunday from the US Open after he accidentally hit a lineswoman in the neck with a ball.

Djokovic had hit the ball with his racket after losing a point in the opening set, according to Yahoo! Sports. The lineswoman reportedly was able to stand up after being hit and did not have to be taken to the hospital.

On top of being disqualified, Djokovic lost all ranking points and was fined the money he had won at the US Open so far, the outlet reported.

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Djokovic has since issued a lengthy apology on his social media accounts. (RELATED: World’s Top-Ranked Tennis Player Tests Positive For Coronavirus)

“This whole situation has left me really sad and empty,” he captioned a photo of himself at the US Open. “I checked on the lines person and the tournament told me that thank God she is feeling ok. I‘m extremely sorry to have caused her such stress. So unintended. So wrong.”

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This whole situation has left me really sad and empty. I checked on the lines person and the tournament told me that thank God she is feeling ok. I‘m extremely sorry to have caused her such stress. So unintended. So wrong. I’m not disclosing her name to respect her privacy. As for the disqualification, I need to go back within and work on my disappointment and turn this all into a lesson for my growth and evolution as a player and human being. I apologize to the @usopen tournament and everyone associated for my behavior. I’m very grateful to my team and family for being my rock support, and my fans for always being there with me. Thank you and I’m so sorry. Cela ova situacija me čini zaista tužnim i praznim. Proverio sam kako se oseća linijski sudija, i prema informacijama koje sam dobio, oseća se dobro, hvala Bogu. Njeno ime ne mogu da otkrijem zbog očuvanja njene privatnosti. Jako mi je žao što sam joj naneo takav stres. Nije bilo namerno. Bilo je pogrešno. Želim da ovo neprijatno iskustvo, diskvalifikaciju sa turnira, pretvorim u važnu životnu lekciju, kako bih nastavio da rastem i razvijam se kao čovek, ali i teniser. Izvinjavam se organizatorima US Opena. Veoma sam zahvalan svom timu i porodici što mi pružaju snažnu podršku, kao i mojim navijačima jer su uvek uz mene. Hvala vam i žao mi je. Bio je ovo težak dan za sve.

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“I need to go back within and work on my disappointment and turn this all into a lesson for my growth and evolution as a player and human being,” he added. “I apologize to the @usopen tournament and everyone associated for my behavior.”

The disqualification of Djokovic clears the way for a first-time winner of the US Open. Djokovic was the favorite after both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal chose to not participate due to the coronavirus pandemic, Yahoo! Sports reported.

The last time the US Open had a first-time winner was 2014, when Marin Cilic won the Grand Slam, according to the outlet.