to a line judge who was hit with the ball during his Men’s Singles
fourth round match against Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain on Day
Seven of the 2020 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National
Tennis Center on September 6, 2020 in the Queens borough of New
York City. Al Bello/Getty Images/AFP
Novak Djokovic was dramatically disqualified
from the US Open on Sunday after accidentally striking a female
lines judge with a ball in frustration during his last-16 match,
sending shock waves through the tournament.
The world number one apologized for hitting the ball in disgust
after losing his serve to go 6-5 down in the first set to Spain’s
20th seed Pablo Carreno Busta inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Djokovic appeared to be looking the other way when he
pulled the ball from his pocket and smacked it in the direction of
the official, it hitting her full toss in the throat.
The official cried out and began gasping for air as she
collapsed to the ground.
Djokovic rushed over to check on her, placing his hand on
her back as she struggled to breathe. After a few minutes she got
up and walked off the court looking dazed.
Around ten minutes of discussions then ensued
between Djokovic and the tournament referee Soeren
Friemel, during which the world number one pleaded his case.
The umpire then declared that Carreno Busta had won by
default. Djokovic shook hands with his opponent before
leaving the court without appearing to shake the umpire’s hand.
‘So wrong’
He went then directly to his car and left the Flushing Meadows
site in New York without speaking to reporters.
Djokovic, 33, later posted an apology on Instagram saying he was
“so sorry.”
“This whole situation has left me really sad and empty,” he
wrote, adding that “thank God” the woman was okay.
“I’m extremely sorry to have caused her such stress. So
unintended. So wrong,” Djokovic said.
off the court after being defaulted due to inadvertently striking a
lineswoman with a ball hit in frustration during his Men’s Singles
fourth round match against Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain on Day
Seven of the 2020 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National
Tennis Center on September 6, 2020 in the Queens borough of New
York City. Al Bello/Getty Images/AFP
He also apologized to tournament organizers for “my behavior”
but did not say whether he thought they were right to default
him.
The United States Tennis Association said Djokovic had
been defaulted under the Grand Slam rules for “intentionally
hitting a ball dangerously or recklessly within the court or
hitting a ball with negligent disregard of the consequences.”
The body added that he would lose all ranking points and prize
money from the tournament.
Referee Friemel said Djokovic told him he should not
be defaulted because it was unintentional.
Friemel said he agreed there was no intent but that it was a
clear-cut case of Djokovic hitting the ball “angrily and
recklessly.”
“She was clearly hurt and in pain. There was no other option,”
he told reporters.
The Serbian star is one of only a handful of players to be
disqualified from a men’s singles tournament at a Grand Slam since
John McEnroe was infamously tossed from the Australian Open in
1990.
Djokovic had been chasing an 18th Grand Slam title at the
Billie Jean King US National Tennis Center.
He was hoping to close the gap on Roger Federer and Rafael
Nadal, both absent from the tournament, in the race for the
all-time men’s Slam singles title record.
Djokovic is on 17, with Nadal on 19 and Federer on 20.
Carreno Busta said he did not see the incident.
“I was celebrating the break with my coach,” he told
reporters.
“When I heard that the line judge was on the floor I was in
shock. I never expected this moment when playing Novak.
“I think it was bad luck,” he added.
Former players reacted with shock at the disqualification but
said officials had made the correct decision.
New winner
“Right call!” former women’s world number one Tracy Austin wrote
on Twitter.
Four-time US Open champion Martina Navratilova said officials
“had no choice” but to default Djokovic.
Former British number one Greg Rusedski described the
disqualification as “unbelievable” but said officials had made the
“correct decision.”
to a line judge who was hit with the ball during his Men’s Singles
fourth round match against Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain on Day
Seven of the 2020 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National
Tennis Center on September 6, 2020 in the Queens borough of New
York City. Al Bello/Getty Images/AFP
A USTA spokesperson said the line judge was “doing okay” after
receiving treatment from medical staff.
Djokovic had been the overwhelming favorite to capture a
fourth US Open title.
His disqualification blows the men’s draw wide open and means it
will crown a first-time Grand Slam winner next Sunday.
“Now it gets interesting,” said fifth seed Alexander Zverev, who
described Djokovic as “very unlucky.”
“It’s going to be one of the young guys,” who wins, Zverev added
after becoming the first German to reach the US Open last eight
since 2007.
Fifth seed Zverev bulldozed Spain’s unseeded Alejandro
Davidovich Fokina 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 while 12th seed Canadian Denis
Shapovalov beat David Goffin for a maiden Grand Slam last-eight
spot.
In the women’s draw, American Jennifer Brady, seeded 28th,
stunned three-time Grand Slam winner Angelique Kerber while eighth
seed Petra Martic was bundled out by Kazakhstan’s 23rd seed Yulia
Putintseva.
And American Shelby Rogers upset sixth seed Petra Kvitova 7-6
(7/5), 3-6, 7-6 (8/6). She will next play two-time Slam winner
Naomi Osaka, who defeated Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit 6-3, 6-4.
AFP
Read more https://swordpress.com.ng/2020/09/07/so-sorry-djokovic-disqualified-from-us-open-for-hitting-judge/
Troops Raid Guma Forest, Eliminate 5 B’Haram in
Gwoza
1. In continuation of the aggressive kinetic operations against
armed banditry, cattle rustling and other sundry crimes in the
North-Central zone, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE have arrested
4 armed bandits and recovered arms and ammunition during two daring
raids at identified bandits’ camps.
2. In one of the operations conducted on 6 September 2020,
troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE deployed at Guma in Benue State
and Keana in Nasarawa State, conducted a dawn raid at identified
armed bandits’ camp at Guma forest along the Benue-Nasarawa border
following actionable intelligence reports on the location of the
camp. Adopting an aggressive posture and profile, the gallant
troops stormed the location and engaged the bandits in a firefight,
overwhelming them with superior fire. In the process, troops
neutralized one bandit while others fled with gunshot wounds into
the forest. Troops also recovered one AK-47 rifle, one AK-47 rifle
magazine, one locally made pistol and 3 mobile phones at the scene
while the camp was subsequently destroyed.
3. Similarly, troops of Sector 1 deployed at Gagbe in Gwer West
Local Government Area of Benue State conducted another dawn raid on
another suspected armed bandits’ hideout at Tse Agi in the general
area. The gallant troops stormed the hideout and apprehended 4
suspects at the scene while one AK 47 rifle, 2 AK-47 rifle
magazines and 46 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition were also
recovered at the location. The hideout was subsequently destroyed
while the suspects are currently being profiled after which they
will be handed over to the appropriate prosecuting agency for
further action.
4. The Military High Command appreciates the general public for
their cooperation in providing credible information which has so
far facilitated the successes of the operations. The Armed Forces
of Nigeria assures that these offensives against the common enemies
of this Nation will not cease until normalcy is restored to all the
troubled zones of the Country.
JOHN ENENCHE
Major General
Coordinator
Defence Media Operations
Defence Headquarters
7 September 2020.
………….
PRESS RELEASE
OPERATION LAFIYA DOLE: TROOPS NEUTRALISE BOKO HARAM/ISWAP
ELEMENTS, RESCUE KIDNAPPED VICTIMS IN GWOZA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
OF BORNO STATE
1. In continuation of the aggressive clearance operation to
stamp out the North-East zone of the country against the insurgents
and other criminal elements, troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has
recorded tremendous successes against BHT/ISWAP elements. Acting on
credible intelligence on the activities of BHT/ISWAP terrorists at
Hamdaga Makaranta town in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno
State, troops of 192 Battalion supported by the Air Task Force of
Operation LAFIYA DOLE on 6 September 2020 raided the location. The
gallant troops overwhelmed them killing 5, while others escaped
with gun shots wounds. Troops also cleared 9 identified isolated
BHT/ISWAP structures and farmlands in the area.
2. Furthermore, troops successfully rescued 7 kidnapped victims
comprising 2 females and 5 children. Currently the gallant troops
have dominated the area with aggressive patrols.
3. The Military High Command congratulates the gallant troops
for their dexterity and encourages them to intensify the onslaught
against the criminal elements in the North-East zone of the
country.
JOHN ENENCHE
Major General
Coordinator
Defence Media Operations
Defence Headquarters
7 September 2020.