Andy Roddick suggests Novak Djokovic could’ve avoided the 2020 US Open controversy by ‘hitting the opponent’
Novak Djokovic was disqualified from the fourth-round 2020 US Open match after he accidentally hit a lineswoman.
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Andy Roddick, Novak Djokovic (Images via X)
Andy Roddick discussed the recent Davis Cup incident that happened during the Qualifiers Round 1 tie between Chile and Belgium. Belgium’s Zizou Bergs won the match after he collided with Cristian Garin, at a crucial point during the second-last match of the tie.
This happened in the third set. After the accidental collision, Garin refused to resume the game, demanding that Bergs should be defaulted. But his requests were turned down.
And as he continued to protest the umpire’s call, without the intention of continuing the game, he was handed three code violations, including a game penalty; as a consequence of which Bergs won the match 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, taking Belgium to the next round.
I will say, had Bergs done it to an umpire, he’d have been gone. But apparently you can do it to another player and it’s fine.
Andy Roddick said on his Served with Andy Roddick podcast
Co-presenter Jon Wertheim referenced Novak Djokovic‘s 2020 US Open campaign to suggest that had Bergs hit the umpire, he would have been defaulted, to which Roddick too agreed. Djokovic was up against Pablo Carreno Busta in the fourth round and inadvertently hit a lineswoman due to which he was disqualified from the tournament.
Yeah, he should’ve just hit the opponent.
Andy Roddick added
Djokovic accidentally hit an official with the ball in the US open, they said rules are if you hit someone it's automatic default.
— Pavvy G (@pavyg) February 2, 2025
Bergs hit Garin to the ground and he gets the win and Garin has to retire with the injury inflicted on him?
Unbelievable.pic.twitter.com/usJmWSiC7Q
Andrea Petkovic is concerned about Novak Djokovic’s injury
Novak Djokovic is nursing the hamstring injury he suffered at the Australian Open. He struggled with the injury in the quarterfinals he played against Carlos Alcaraz and though he won it, he couldn’t continue his semifinal clash with Alexander Zverev, ending it right after losing the first set.
Former WTA player Rennae Stubbs had predicted that Djokovic could take two months to recover. Andrea Petkovic too was of the same opinion as she talked about the MRI scan that Djokovic had shared to censure the critcs who accused him of faking the injury.
But I know, I have seen enough of them [MRI scans] that when you have a big white blot that is this big, you are f***ed basically. The thing is, Novak, he is getting older, but he is different in terms of recovery.
Andrea Petkovic said on The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast
Djokovic had signed up for the Qatar Open but it’s uncertain whether he would gain complete fitness to play the tournament in Doha for the first time since 2018. As per Serbian media outlet Sportal, Djokovic could be back in just two weeks.
If he makes his comeback in a couple of weeks, he can participate in the Indian Wells and the Miami Open. Last year, the Serb had participated at Indian Wells but skipped the Miami Open.
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Gouri Das
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