Lineswoman Djokovic Accidentally Hit Gets Death Threats After Tennis Star’s US Open Disqualification

After the 33-year-old tennis star, Novak Djokovic accidentally flung a ball in the direction of the umpire, hitting a lineswoman in the throat, he was disqualified from the U.S. Open. But since then, the lineswoman has received many death threats and vile comments from fans of the tennis player who are holding her responsible for his disqualification.

After losing the day’s match’s 11th game and sustaining an injury in his shoulder, Djokovic was visibly frustrated as he flicked a ball to the backcourt which accidentally struck a lineswoman, who fell down. For her recklessness and anger display, Djokovic was disqualified as per the Grand Slam guidelines regarding “abuse of ball.”

The U.S. Open female line judge has taken Labor Day off, according to the New York Post and is currently resting at a hotel under the observation of the tournament doctor. The publication has also shared that the injured lineswoman is Laura Clark of Owensboro, Ky., While the USTA has not been willing to release her name as even without making it public, the lineswoman is being trolled on social media accounts after the top seed Djokovic was disqualified.

“I’ve been through that myself. Honestly, I feel awful for him. I feel terrible for everybody. Nobody wants to be in this situation,” said tennis player Denis Shapovalov. He was also booted in a 2017 Davis Cup match when he accidentally hit a ball into a linesman’s eye. “Just a fluke. It’s accidents like this that happen. Same thing with me.”

Soon after the incident at the court, Djokovic had penned an apology to both Clark and the U.S. Open tournament.

"This whole situation has left me really sad and empty. I checked on the linesperson 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," he wrote in his post.

"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," the player further added. "I apologize to the @usopen tournament and everyone associated for my behaviour.

Djokovic has also implored his fans to be "supportive and caring" for the injured lineswoman who has done "nothing wrong at all."