“I’m sorry”: Djokovic leaves the Stadium and apologises on Instagram
After hitting the line judge, being defaulted and missing the post-match press conference, Novak Djokovic has issued an apology via his social media.
Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, checks a linesman after 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)/USO166/20250736203987//2009062259
Djokovic posted a lengthy apology to his Instagram in both English and Serbian at around 7:30 local time, three hours removed from the incident in his match against Pablo Carreño Busta.
“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.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CE0AzAOH2cp/?igshid=1nq6g46h7bvdm
This was Djokovic’s only response to the incident, as shortly after his default, he departed Flushing Meadows and did not attend the post-match media availability.
He insisted to the umpire and tournament officials that the hit was not intentional and he hoped to avoid disqualification.
