Djokovic out of Open after hitting line judge
Top-seeded Novak Djokovic defaulted from his fourth-round match at the U.S. Open after he accidentally hit a line judge with a tennis ball.
Djokovic had just lost a game to his opponent, Pablo Carreno Busta, to fall behind 6-5 in the first set.
As he walked to the sideline for the changeover, Djokovic smacked a ball behind him. The ball hit a female line judge, who dropped to her knees at the back of the court.
After a discussion of several minutes with officials on court, Djokovic walked over to shake hands with Carreno Busta, and the default was announced.
On the women’s side, Americans Shelby Rogers and Jennifer Brady reached the quarterfinals for the first time at the U.S. Open.