Novak Djokovic disqualified from US Open after hitting line judge with ball


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World No 1 Novak Djokovic was disqualified in the US Open fourth round on Sunday after hitting a female line judge in the throat with a ball in the first set of his match against Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta.

Djokovic was becoming frustrated after failing to take the opening set, suffering a fall and having dropped serve to trail 5-6.

He hit a ball fairly hard to the back of the court, striking a female line judge.

Djokovic immediately apologised and stood over her before becoming involved in a lengthy exchange with the tournament referee.

In a statement on Instagram only hours after his sensational exit in New York, the Serbian world No 1 said he had been left "really sad and empty" by the controversy.

"I checked on the lines person and the tournament told me that thank God she is feeling ok," he wrote.

"I'm extremely sorry to have caused her such stress. So unintended. So wrong."

Under the rules of the game there is no option other than a default and despite him pleading that he had not meant to hit the official, he was eventually disqualified.

"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.

"I apologise to the @usopen tournament and everyone associated for my behaviour. 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."

After the incident, Djokovic shook hands with a stunned Carreno Busta and trudged off to face the music.

It was an incredible end to the top seed's hopes of winning an 18th Grand Slam title, which looked increasingly likely as the fortnight progressed.

"It's the right decision," British former player Tim Henman, who was disqualified from Wimbledon for a similar incident in 1995, told Amazon Prime.

"He is not aiming for the line judge, but has hit the ball away and you have to be responsible for your actions."

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Bantamweight

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Lightweight

Alexandru Chitoran (ROU) bt Hussein Fakhir Abed (SYR) by submission.

Catch 74kg

Omar Hussein (JOR) bt Tohir Zhuraev (TJK) by decision.

Strawweight (Female)

Seo Ye-dam (KOR) bt Weronika Zygmunt (POL) by decision.

Featherweight

Kaan Ofli (TUR) bt Walid Laidi (ALG) by TKO.

Lightweight

Abdulla Al Bousheiri (KUW) bt Leandro Martins (BRA) by TKO.

Welterweight

Ahmad Labban (LEB) bt Sofiane Benchohra (ALG) by TKO.

Bantamweight

Jaures Dea (CAM) v Nawras Abzakh (JOR) no contest.

Lightweight

Mohammed Yahya (UAE) bt Glen Ranillo (PHI) by TKO round 1.

Lightweight

Alan Omer (GER) bt Aidan Aguilera (AUS) by TKO round 1.

Welterweight

Mounir Lazzez (TUN) bt Sasha Palatkinov (HKG) by TKO round 1.

Featherweight title bout

Romando Dy (PHI) v Lee Do-gyeom (KOR) by KO round 1.

6 UNDERGROUND

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Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Adria Arjona, Dave Franco

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The biog

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Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like honeycomb.

It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were "playing about" with sticky tape and graphite - the material used as "lead" in pencils.

Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.

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Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
  1. Join parent networks
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UAE squad

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THE BIO

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Education: UAE University, Al Ain

Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6

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  • Second Test: July 14-18, Trent Bridge, Nottingham, 2pm
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  • Fourth Test: Old Trafford, Manchester, August 4-8
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Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.

UAE tour of Zimbabwe

All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – UAE won by 36 runs
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I

David Haye record

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Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4

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Fixtures (all times UAE)

Saturday
Brescia v Atalanta (6pm)
Genoa v Torino (9pm)
Fiorentina v Lecce (11.45pm)

Sunday
Juventus v Sassuolo (3.30pm)
Inter Milan v SPAL (6pm)
Lazio v Udinese (6pm)
Parma v AC Milan (6pm)
Napoli v Bologna (9pm)
Verona v AS Roma (11.45pm)

Monday
Cagliari v Sampdoria (11.45pm)

Champions League Last 16

Red Bull Salzburg (AUT) v Bayern Munich (GER) 

Sporting Lisbon (POR) v Manchester City (ENG) 

Benfica (POR) v Ajax (NED) 

Chelsea (ENG) v Lille (FRA) 

Atletico Madrid (ESP) v Manchester United (ENG) 

Villarreal (ESP) v Juventus (ITA) 

Inter Milan (ITA) v Liverpool (ENG) 

Paris Saint-Germain v Real Madrid (ESP)  

RESULT

Manchester City 1 Sheffield United 0
Man City:
Jesus (9')

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