Djokovic says he learned a 'big lesson' from US Open default

Posted September 14, 2020 7:00 am

By ANDREW DAMPF

Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, reacts after inadvertently hitting a line judge with a ball after hitting it in reaction to losing a point against Pablo Carreno Busta, of Spain, during the fourth round of the US Open tennis championships, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020, in New York. Djokovic defaulted the match. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) The Associated Press

ROME (AP) - Novak Djokovic learned 'œa big lesson'ť after being disqualified from the U.S. Open for unintentionally hitting a line judge in the throat with a ball.

The incident eight days ago marked a stunning end to Djokovic's 29-match winning streak and his bid for an 18th Grand Slam title.

'œI'm working mentally and emotionally as hard as I am working physically," Djokovic said Monday at the Italian Open. "I'm trying to be the best version of myself on the court and off the court and I understand that I have outbursts and this is kind of the personality and the player that I have always been.

'œI'm going to take this in as profound as possible for me as a big lesson. I've been thinking about it. I've been comprehending. I've been talking to my team. It's just one of these things that is just unfortunate and happens. You have to move on.'ť

The disqualification came during Djokovic's fourth-round match against Pablo CarreÃ±o Busta.

As he walked to the Arthur Ashe Stadium sideline for a changeover, trailing CarreÃ±o Busta 6-5 in the first set, Djokovic - who was seeded and ranked No. 1 and an overwhelming favorite for the championship - angrily smacked a ball behind him. The ball flew right at the line judge, who dropped to her knees at the back of the court and reached for her neck.

'œIt was totally unexpected and very unintended as well,'ť Djokovic said. 'œWhen you hit a ball like that you have a chance to hit somebody that is on the court. The rules are clear. So I accepted it. I had to move on and that's what I did.

'œOf course I did not forget about it,'ť Djokovic added. 'œI don't think I'll ever forget about it, because it's one of those things that stays in your memory for the rest of your life. But I don't think I'll have any major issues coming back to the tour and being able to perform well and hit the tennis ball.'ť

Djokovic said he checked with the lineswoman after the incident and was told she was not seriously injured.

'œI felt really sorry to cause the shock and drama to her, because she didn't deserve that in any way,'ť Djokovic said. 'œShe obviously is volunteering and doing her work. She loves tennis, and she's been there, as I understood, for quite a few years.'ť

Djokovic had won five of the past seven Grand Slam tournaments to raise his total to 17, closing in on rivals Roger Federer, who has a men's record 20, and Rafael Nadal, who has 19.

Federer (injury) and Nadal (concerns about travel amid the coronavirus pandemic) both did not play at the U.S. Open.

'œSorry for him. He had an opportunity there,'ť Nadal said. 'œBut in some way you should not be doing this. ... It is important to have the right self-control on the court.'ť

Djokovic has an opening-round bye in Rome. His first match this week will come against either Italian wild-card entry Salvatore Caruso or a qualifier.

The tournament at the Foro Italico was rescheduled from May because of the pandemic and will be played without fans in attendance.

Nadal, who has a record nine titles in Rome, is on the opposite side of the draw from Djokovic. The Spaniard is returning to tennis for the first time since February.

'œI am similar to always - maybe a little bit worse because I didn't compete for the last six months,'ť Nadal said. 'œTo feel that you're 100% you need matches.'ť

Nadal opens against CarreÃ±o Busta.

'œHe's playing great,'ť Nadal said. 'œGoing to be a good test.'ť

Like at the U.S. Open, players are being kept in a protective 'œbubble'ť and being tested frequently for the coronavirus. But as opposed to the situation in New York, players are not required to wear masks when they enter and leave the court.

'œAll of the players have been tested, so that makes total sense,'ť sixth-ranked Stefanos Tsitsipas said. 'œAnd they don't have people running around telling you what do and what protocol you have to follow every single minute that you're in the bubble.

'œPlus,'ť Tsitsipas added, 'œthe accommodation is another level.'ť

Men's players are staying at the five-star Rome Cavalieri, which overlooks the city center from a hilltop.

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Andrew Dampf on Twitter: www.twitter.com/AndrewDampf

Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, checks a line judge after inadvertently hitting her with a ball in reaction to losing a point to Pablo Carreno Busta, of Spain, during the fourth round of the US Open tennis championships, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020, in New York. Djokovic defaulted the match. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) The Associated Press

Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, talks with the umpire after inadvertently hitting a line judge with a ball after hitting it in reaction to losing a point against Pablo Carreno Busta, of Spain, during the fourth round of the US Open tennis championships, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020, in New York. Djokovic defaulted the match. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) The Associated Press

FILE - In this May 19, 2019 file photo, Rafael Nadal of Spain holds his trophy after winning against Novak Djokovic of Serbia at the end of their final match at the Italian Open tennis tournament, in Rome. Rafael Nadal is preparing his return to tennis after a seven-month layoff at next week's Italian Open. 'The Foro Italico is always a special place for me and even more so this year as it will be my first tournament following a long period without playing,' Nadal, who has won the Rome tournament a record nine times, said in a video message played at the event's presentation Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) The Associated Press

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