Novak Djokovic apologised for his US Open disqualification on Sunday (local time), declaring himself "extremely sorry" for the moment of madness which saw him defaulted from the tournament. In a statement on Instagram just hours after his sensational exit in New York, the Serbian world number one said he had been left "really sad and empty" by the controversy. The 33-year-old was tossed from the tournament after accidentally hitting a tennis ball into the throat of a line official during his fourth round match with Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta.
Novak Djokovic "Extremely Sorry" After US Open Disqualification
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Novak Djokovic was disqualified from the US Open after accidentally hitting a tennis ball into the throat of a line official during his fourth round match.
World No.1 Novak Djokovic apologised for his US Open disqualification.© AFP
Highlights
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Novak Djokovic apologised for his US Open disqualification
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The Serbian star said he was "extremely sorry" for the moment of madness
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Djokovic said he had been left "really sad and empty" by the controversy
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(@djokernole) on
Djokovic, who left Flushing Meadows without speaking to reporters following his exit, said he would try to learn from the incident.
"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 said.
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"I apologize to the @usopen tournament and everyone associated for my behavior. 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."
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Djokovic is one of only a handful of players to be defaulted from a Grand Slam tournament ever since John McEnroe was infamously booted out of the 1990 Australian Open.
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