Novak Djokovic begged not to be disqualified from US Open in 'worst moment of his career'

Novak Djokovic tends to line judge Laura Clark who was hit with the stray ball (Image: Getty Images)

Novak Djokovic failed in his desperate bid to avoid the US Open disqualification that Boris Becker described as the "worst moment of his career." The Serbian legend lasted just one match in the 2026 version of the Grand Slam, going out in tears in a shock five-set loss to Mariana Navone. Yet it still was not the worst moment of his career at the tournament. He endured a deeply regrettable chapter at the US Open in 2020.

Four of Djokovic's 24 Grand Slam titles were clinched in New York, and it remains the last major he claimed back in 2023. But despite the joy he has experienced at Flushing Meadows, the 39-year-old suffered quite the opposite six years ago. His campaign came to a stunning conclusion after he was disqualified when he accidentally struck a line judge with a stray ball. It was during his fourth-round encounter against Pablo Carreno Busta that an exasperated Djokovic struck a ball down the court after his serve was broken, leaving him trailing 6-5 in the opening set.

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The ball struck the lineswoman, who collapsed to the ground in considerable pain. Djokovic rushed over immediately to apologise to the line judge as she received attention.

Nevertheless, his concerned response was not sufficient to save his place in the tournament, as he was disqualified following lengthy deliberations among US Open officials.

In addition to his ejection, he forfeited all ranking points accumulated during the tournament and was fined the prize money he had earned up to that point.

Djokovic's expulsion came despite the tennis legend pleading his case to referee Soeren Friemel and supervisor Andreas Egli for over 10 minutes on the court, yet his appeals proved fruitless.

Friemel said: "His point was that he didn't hit the line umpire intentionally. He said, 'Yes, I was angry, I hit the ball, I hit the line umpire, the facts are very clear, but it wasn't my intent, I didn't do it on purpose, so I shouldn't be defaulted for that.'

"We all agreed that he didn't do it on purpose but the facts are still that he hit the line umpire and that the line umpire was clearly hurt."

Novak Djokovic failed in his attempt to escape his US Open disqualification in 2020 (Image: Getty)

Djokovic subsequently took to social media to issue a public apology to the line judge while vowing to improve himself both as an athlete and as a person. "This whole situation has left me really sad and empty," he wrote.

"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."

He also added: "I apologise to the US Open tournament and everyone associated for my behaviour. 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."

Becker - who coached Djokovic for three years - confessed he was stunned by his friend's disqualification. "I'm as shocked as anybody," the German icon said while working as an analyst for Eurosport.

"Novak and me go way back. We call each other family. This is probably the most difficult moment in his entire professional life. He did break the rule, the decision is correct."