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Not a huge tennis fan but having seen this, even though it was the rule, seemed a bit harsh to disqualify him for hitting the line judge in the throat with a ball. He clearly didn't aim the ball at her and he was horrified when it hit her. If he had hit the ball he hit into the net that accurately he wouldn't have hit the spare ball away. If he had done it with intension then that would have been another thing, but it was an accident.
It's not the first time he's done it, he's been close before throwing rackets around and balls into the crowd and laughed it off. Thought it was a really stupid and irresponsible thing to do
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Novak Djokovic disqualification on 12:47 - Sep 7 with 1786 views
He may be horrified and apologetic but he doesnt really have a leg to stand on...it was irresponsible behaviour from having a sulk and could have done someone serious damage if the ball had hit somewhere else. Even then, I bet that ball was going a fair speed when it hit that lady in the throat!
Rules are rules as they say, have to send the message that you can't react like that to things not going your own way.
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Novak Djokovic disqualification on 13:15 - Sep 7 with 1702 views
As you say never been a huge fan. Sounds like sports equivalent of Gweyneth paltrow. Some crackpot ideas and flowery overstated social media posts. In fairness to him she did go over rather theatrically. Real Madrids pepe would have approved of the way she stacked it!
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Novak Djokovic disqualification on 13:20 - Sep 7 with 1680 views
The ball was only five or six inches from hitting her in the eye, which could have caused a permanent injury. As said, Djokovic has form. He knows the rules but continues to push them.
Fair play to the officials for standing up for her rather than being influenced by his fame or the pressures of the broadcasters and sponsors. I'm sure he didn't mean to hurt her, but the officials shouldn't have to make judgements on his motivation. Now the whole sport top to bottom knows what's allowed. Other games would be better if they followed this example.
He's had previous with this. A strange guy, he struggles to manage his emotions on court at various times.
Pinched this from Matthew Syed's piece in today's Times:
Novak Djokovic’s temper had been an accident waiting to happen in recent years. In 2016, he launched a ball into the crowd at the ATP World Tour Finals during a match against Dominic Thiem and could have caused injury had it made impact. Neil McLeman, a tennis writer from the Mirror, questioned him on this, saying that the ball “could” have hit a spectator. Djokovic was dismissive; “Could,” he said, putting emphasis on the conditional aspect of that word. “And it could have snowed in Torino today, but it didn’t.”
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Novak Djokovic disqualification on 14:19 - Sep 7 with 1518 views
If he didn't mean to hit her, don't ping balls around like a child, they won't hit anyone then.
Quite the year for Novak. Tried to break up the ATP and start a new group whilst President, then organised a private tournament where everyone got COVID.
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Novak Djokovic disqualification on 14:21 - Sep 7 with 1512 views
Novak Djokovic disqualification on 12:35 - Sep 7 by daveB
It's not the first time he's done it, he's been close before throwing rackets around and balls into the crowd and laughed it off. Thought it was a really stupid and irresponsible thing to do
Have to agree here its just the way he operates on the edge and this time it bit him.It clearly struck her in the throat and regardless of power that is a shock to the system. I will be interested to see who jumps to his defence today he appears to have rocked the boat this year with his Covid tournament (he got infected )and breaking away to form a new players association . Remember Serena Williams standing over a female line judge verbally threathening to "shove this ball down your fuc*ing throat " after a crucial foot fault a few years ago but she only got fined not suspended so maybe its a US bias issue going on .
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Novak Djokovic disqualification on 14:39 - Sep 7 with 1465 views
Novak Djokovic disqualification on 14:21 - Sep 7 by robith
This is a long time coming.
If he didn't mean to hit her, don't ping balls around like a child, they won't hit anyone then.
Quite the year for Novak. Tried to break up the ATP and start a new group whilst President, then organised a private tournament where everyone got COVID.
Totally agree.
Great tennis player, but there is a nasty side to him. Could easily have happened before. Hope he learns from it.
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Novak Djokovic disqualification on 15:03 - Sep 7 with 1398 views
Novak Djokovic disqualification on 14:42 - Sep 7 by Toast_R
I'm sure if anyone put their laces through a football out of play and it hit the ref in the mush it'd be a red card offence.
he didnt exactly smash it at her though, I think it was reasonable to punish him but i think the reaction was a bit OTT and not sure I would be want to pay for the alertness and vision of that line judge, i know she is concentrating on the line but even so!
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Novak Djokovic disqualification on 15:14 - Sep 7 with 1381 views
Ah the lovable "Djoker" being disqualified, what a shame. As mentioned by others he has form for this sort of thing and I've also seen him feign injury/illness before in big games where things aren't going so well to put his opponent off.
I'm sure a quick review of his finances will cheer him up.
I can imagine the media screams for execution if Nick Krygios has done this.