- ‘One of those things that stays in your memory for life’
- World No 1 adds that it was ‘unexpected and ‘unintended’
Novak Djokovic says that he has accepted his default from the US Open but he understands it will stick with him for a long time as he prepares to return to competition this week at the Italian Open in Rome.
After losing his serve to trail 5-6 in the first set of his fourth-round match against Pablo Carreño Busta last Sunday week, Djokovic fired a ball behind him which struck a line umpire, Laura Clark, in the neck and led to her falling to the ground. He became one of only five players in the Open era to have been defaulted from a grand slam tournament.
Related: Line judge hit by Novak Djokovic at US Open receives abuse on social media
