Djokovic insists default was ‘big lesson’ as he prepares for clay season

Novak Djokovic has taken his shock disqualification from the US Open as a “big lesson” but admits he can’t guarantee he won’t do the same thing again.

The world No 1 spoke at a press conference in Rome for the first time since he was ejected from the year’s second grand slam for hitting a line judge in the throat with a ball struck in annoyance during his four th-round clash with Pablo Carreno Busta.

Djoko vic accepts that the fire that makes him a champion can also come out in negative ways. He said: “Of course as anybody else I’m working mentally and emotionally as hard as I’m working physically, trying to be the best version of myself on the court and off the court.

“I understand that I have outbursts and this is the personality and the player I have always been. I obviously went through ups and downs in my career in managing to control my emotions more or less but you’re alone out there, it’ s a lot of intensity, a lot of pressure and you have to deal with all of that so sometimes situations like this happen.

“I can not promise that I will never, ever do any thing similar to that. I’m definitely going to try my best that something like that never happens again, obviously, but anything is possible in life. I’m going to take this in as profound as possible as a big lesson ,” added the Serb, pictured.

Djokovic has been preparing on clay for this week’s Italian Open and the French Open starting on 27 September. He said: “It’s great I think I have a tournament a week or ten days after it happened because I feel the earlier I get back in competition mode the faster I’ll overcome the memory. I’m hoping for the best.”

Ra fa el Nad al chosen otto defend his title in New York and will play his first tournament since the end of February in Rome.

Nadal played down expectations for his return to the match court, saying: “It’s obvious that to feel you’re 100 per cent that you need matches. But here I am. I arrived with plenty of time to try to have the right practices.

“I’m excited about going back to the competition without big expectation. Go on court, feel myself competitive, and then I will see how I feel and what kind of goals I can look for.”