{"id":23814,"date":"2025-02-06T04:23:42","date_gmt":"2025-02-06T04:23:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=23814"},"modified":"2025-02-06T04:23:42","modified_gmt":"2025-02-06T04:23:42","slug":"hit-him-novak-djokovic-told-he-should-have-swung-for-opponent-as-us-open-controversy-surfaces","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=23814","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Hit him\u2019 \u2013 Novak Djokovic told he should have swung for opponent as US Open controversy surfaces"},"content":{"rendered":"

Novak Djokovic has been dragged into the ongoing Davis Cup controversy.<\/strong><\/p>\n

An incident involving the tennis icon five years ago has been compared to the altercation which ended a tie between Belgium and Chile.<\/p>\n

\n
\"Djokovic<\/a><\/p>\n
4<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>
Djokovic has been dragged into the Davis Cup controversy<\/span>Credit: AFP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\"Chile<\/a><\/p>\n
4<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>
Chile vs Belgium was overshadowed by an altercation on court<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The qualifiers first round tie at the weekend ended in contentious circumstances as\u00a0Cristian Garin of Chile was disqualified.<\/p>\n

Garin had been facing Zizou Bergs when his opponent barged into him as he ran to celebrate with his team-mates.<\/p>\n

The Chilean protested the umpires call to hand Bergs a code violation before refusing to continue.<\/p>\n

His tirade ultimately saw him receive a point and game penalty which handed Bergs victory and meant Belgium claimed the match.<\/p>\n

The incident has now been compared to Djokovic’s own infamous exit from the 2020\u00a0US Open.<\/p>\n

After swiping a ball away in frustration during his fourth round match against Pablo Carreno Busta, the Serbian accidently struck a lineswoman.<\/p>\n

Djokovic\u00a0was defaulted from the tournament as a result of the incident.<\/p>\n

Former world number one Andy Roddick has compared the two scenarios and claimed Djokovic should have ‘hit the opponent’.<\/p>\n

\n

Speaking on his\u00a0Served podcast<\/a>, Roddick explained: “I will say, had Bergs done it to an umpire, he\u2019d have been gone. But apparently you can do it to another player and it\u2019s fine.”<\/p>\n

Co-host Jon Wertheim added: “If Novak Djokovic taps a ball and it happens to hit a lineswoman and he says, \u2018listen, I didn\u2019t intend anything\u2019. It doesn\u2019t really matter what his intent is.”<\/p>\n

\n
\"Roddick<\/a><\/p>\n
4<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>
Roddick claimed Djokovic should have hit his opponent at the 2020 US Open<\/span>Credit: Youtube \/ Served with Andy Roddick<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\"Djokovic<\/a><\/p>\n
4<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>
Djokovic was defaulted for accidentally striking a line judge with the ball<\/span>Credit: getty<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This prompted Roddick to quip: “Yeah, he should’ve just hit the opponent.”<\/p>\n

Georgian player Nikoloz Basilashvili also referenced Djokovic as he reacted to the incident on social media.<\/p>\n

He wrote: “If Novak had done this, he would have been disqualified for life. WTF.”<\/p>\n

Chile’s Olympic committee have since expressed their ‘upset and incredulity’ over the incident against Belgium.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Garin later addressed the incident in both his post-match press conference and in an Instagram post, as he admitted he felt ‘devastated’.<\/p>\n

Belgium’s win means they have advanced to the qualifiers second round and will face Australia in September for a place in the Final 8.<\/p>\n

As for Chile, they enter World Group 1 for the conclusion of this year’s\u00a0Davis Cup<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Novak Djokovic has been dragged into the ongoing Davis Cup controversy. 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