The US Open final was almost worse for Novak Djokovic.
In the second set of his defeat against Daniil Medvedev, Djokovic’s temper shot up after hitting the ball into the net. Djokovic, who previously broke the racket during the 6-4. 6-4. 6-4 losses, stepping back to hit the ball in frustration as a terrified ball boy ran to retrieve it. He calmed down before following what could have been a potential disaster.
“Djokovic goes back in anger to crush a ball as hard as he can. A ball boy is right on the line of fire and retreats at the last second. It was a split second of a total catastrophe. Novak staggered. Furious. Defocused. A nightmare scenario for him ” has tweeted Craig O’Shannessy, ATP strategy coach, along with screenshots of the scene.
If Djokovic had followed, it could have been an impressive replay of his 2020 disqualification from the event. A year ago, Djokovic hit a ball angrily and hit a line woman in the neck during his fourth-round game. Player number 1 did not have access to the match and the tournament.
Line judges were eliminated from the U.S. Open this year as Flushing Meadows switched to automated sentencing.
Djokovic’s loss prevented him from winning the Golden Slam and kept him tied with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer with 20 career Grand Slam victories.