Web Report
Novak Djokovic was sensationally disqualified from the US Open on Sunday after he struck a line official with a ball.
The world number one went 5-6 down in the first set to Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta when he hit a ball in the direction of the female official.
It struck her in the throat and she could be heard gasping. Djokovic rushed over to check that she was okay and after a few minutes she got up and walked off the court.
Following around ten minutes of discussions with the tournament referee, the umpire declared that Carreno Busta had won by default. Djokovic shook hands with Carreno Busta before leaving the court.
The Serbian star is only the third player in Grand Slam history to be disqualified out of a men’s singles tournament following John McEnroe at the Australian Open in 1990 and Stefan Koubek at the French Open in 2000. 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.
Earlier, American Jennifer Brady led a day of upsets in the women’s draw. Brady, the 28th seed, stunned three-time Grand Slam winner Angelique Kerber of Germany to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal for the first time in her career.
The 25-year-old took just 1hr 29min to sweep aside the 17th seed 6-1, 6-4 to move into the last eight at Flushing Meadows. “It’s awesome. Hopefully I keep going,” she told reporters.
Brady, whose previous best appearances at Slams were fourth-round finishes at the Australian and US Opens three years ago, credited her run to becoming fitter.
Brady will play Yulia Putintseva for a spot in the last four after the Kazakhstan 23rd seed stunned eighth seed Petra Martic of Croatia elsewhere on Sunday.
Putintseva displayed a range of exquisitely placed dropshots as she sent Martic tumbling out 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 in 2hr 37 min inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
