Djokovic

[SebastianTheCrab]

He apparently purposely flicked the ball at a lineswoman who got hit in the throat and was disqualified.

People on Twitter are saying it was an accident. The footage isn't very clear but considering he's a top tennis player (Ie excellent control over the ball) and known misogynist it doesn't seem surprising he was angry and decided to take it out on a woman.

Particularly unimpressed by this BBC Sport tweet. How the fuck do they know it was "accidentally"? Aren't they meant to be unbiased?

The fact that he hit a woman is not misogny in this case as I think we all agree he had no idea it would hit anyone, never mind a woman.

However, his deep sense of entitlement "what, just because someone is hurt you're going to destroy my career?" could either be a classic sense of male entitlement or the sense of entitlement and arrogance often seen by top sports people. Or most likely, a combination of the two.

His apology was also ridiculous - he apologised for her "stress"? Please. It's very clear that he really doesn't think that she was hurt and that it was all played up. I think that was despicable. It doesn't matter that she isn't on life support in a hospital - she WAS hurt and he DID hurt her and he should acknowledge that.

So add Woodbridge to Navratilova, King, Henman and even McEnroe to the list of past champions saying the decision was right. However, it won't stop the self appointed experts on social media saying Djokovic was hard done by and a nasty woman ruined his chance of catching up with Nadal and Federer in terms of Grand Slam titles.

I’m as feminist as they come but an attack on a woman?! Come on.

Is he a dick? Yes.

Did he purposely target a woman? No.

He wasn’t even looking where the ball went and when he realised what had happened he immediately went to check she was ok.

I just watched it filmed from another angle and he was actually looking in her direction when he hit the ball and was hitting it in a fit of pique and then cacked himself when he saw that he’d hit her. He didn’t just randomly knock it towards the wall - he knew someone would be on the end of it. Obviously probably didn’t intend for them to be hurt but he didn’t take enough care. I agree it was an arsey, ‘superior’ thing to do - he was treating the ball girls/boys/umpires with a condescending attitude at the very least.

Was a complete accident. Didn't even know she was there and he didn't look particularly angry. If it was deliberate and he did it out of anger she would've probably ended in hospital

I'd put money on it that he wouldn't have been disqualified if it was a man he ACCIDENTALLY hit

@SkaraBrae

Once again the feminist issue is the sexist criticism of the line judge. Go on social media and read what has been written about her. Poor woman got hit in the throat and got abuse for it.

Meanwhile Djokovic can't even face the media to apologise like a grown up.

He apologised via Instagram. Wonder if the line judge wanted him disqualified. Does anyone know?

Also, my husband watched it live and when he was telling me about what happened he (disappointingly) said it wouldn't have happened if she'd been watching the ball, which is her job. I wonder if there are other idiots out there thinking the same thing? If so, they are effectively saying it was her fault and she deserved it for not paying attention while simultaneously implying that she is a substandard linesperson (presumably because she is a woman). The only person at fault here is Djokovic and he was dealt with appropriately.

Your husband is wrong. The point had ended, the line judge had a reasonable expectation that no balls would be coming at her as none were in play.

@Kyle19

I'd put money on it that he wouldn't have been disqualified if it was a man he ACCIDENTALLY hit

The rules are clear, he had to be disqualified.

I don’t think it was intentional. Disqualification seems to be the right thing to do but I don’t think it’s a male violence situation here.

I'd put money on it that he wouldn't have been disqualified if it was a man he ACCIDENTALLY hit

1. Total speculation
2. Irrelevant. He broke a rule and was disqualfied.
3. That is a perfect example of sexist bile - a bloody woman simply being a woman somewhere is the true cause of Djokovic being disqualified

This is a good lesson for all tennis players though. A ball at that speed can hurt someone. A bit faster and can probably cause serious damage. I doubt it will destroy his career. He has already had a career, hasn’t he? Money, fame and all that comes with it. But if this sets an example, it can help future players control their Temper better.

@Totickleamockingbird

I don’t think it was intentional. Disqualification seems to be the right thing to do but I don’t think it’s a male violence situation here.

This

I'd be surprised if the line judge gives an opinion Kyle, because if she agrees with the DQ she's going to get loads of abuse and if she doesn't agree, that opens her up to lots of future criticism about picking and choosing which rules she wants to apply. Not ideal as an official.

@Sheheshehe

I just watched it filmed from another angle and he was actually looking in her direction when he hit the ball and was hitting it in a fit of pique and then cacked himself when he saw that he’d hit her. He didn’t just randomly knock it towards the wall - he knew someone would be on the end of it. Obviously probably didn’t intend for them to be hurt but he didn’t take enough care. I agree it was an arsey, ‘superior’ thing to do - he was treating the ball girls/boys/umpires with a condescending attitude at the very least.

This is how I saw it too.

It's part of the "power" culture in certain (male-dominated) industries - like sport and also film - that means you can treat those lower on the totem pole (both sexes) like shit. Remember when Christian Bale went mental at that lighting director? It was just completely unacceptable behaviour that would no longer be tolerated in offices. But it's tolerated on film sets.

Throwing stuff in anger is also not tolerated in most work places. It would be gross misconduct if you threw something in anger that hit someone else in most jobs. Why should it be tolerated just because some bloke is good at hitting balls with some wire?

And in those top-down structures when those in power - who are usually men - can operate with impunity both sexes suffer. But inevitably women suffer more.

@Kyle19

I'd put money on it that he wouldn't have been disqualified if it was a man he ACCIDENTALLY hit

Rubbish

@Kyle19

I'd put money on it that he wouldn't have been disqualified if it was a man he ACCIDENTALLY hit

Here is Dennis Shapovalov hitting a male official accidentally a couple of years back. There doesn't appear to be any suggestion it was deliberate. He was disqualified. Interestingly, he was still a minor at the time, around half Djokovic's current age.

Does that change your wager at all?

OpenlyGayExOlympicFencer nope. difference is Shapovalov clearly did it out of anger and frustration and was rightly punished. And yes I'd still have the same opinion on that if the umpire was female

@Kyle19

OpenlyGayExOlympicFencer nope. difference is Shapovalov clearly did it out of anger and frustration and was rightly punished. And yes I'd still have the same opinion on that if the umpire was female

Not very clear what your rationale is here. I've just given you an example of a male tennis player accidentally hitting a male official with a ball, and receiving the same punishment as Djokovic has. You're still maintaining that Djokovic wouldn't have been disqualified if he'd hit a man, even though the rules specify it and evidently another player has been. Which means you think you'd have received preferential treatment.

And 17 year old Shapovalov stayed and attended the press conference where he apologised for his actions!

oh whatever. I'm all for equal rights and equal pay etc but this is ridiculous

@Kyle19

oh whatever. I'm all for equal rights and equal pay etc but this is ridiculous

Ridiculous would be maintaining that Djokovic has somehow been hard done to because of hitting a woman, in the light of the Shopovalov example. I don't actually agree at all with OP, but frankly if you'd made that bet, the only way you'd have won it is if they'd given special treatment to the big name. Which would hardly be justifiable.

Watch this and then try to tell me this isn't 10 times worse. He literally attacked a child in a stadium filled with over 20,000 people. m.youtube.com/watch?v=lCacZz-OQzU

[quote Kyle19]Watch this and then try to tell me this isn't 10 times worse. He literally attacked a child in a stadium filled with over 20,000 people. m.youtube.com/watch?v=lCacZz-OQzU[/quote]
Could you clarify the relevance?

This is great.