In the world of tennis, fairness and integrity are what keeps the spirit of the game high. Over the years, the rules and regulations of the game have been improved to give both players and fans a unique and improved experience of the game. However, despite this, there are certain instances that have shattered the image of the game. One such incident happened with Novak Djokovic back at the US Open in 2020. The incident saw him being defaulted from the tournament.

However, the world saw the instance getting repeated. This time, it was Daniil Medvedev at the ongoing ATP Vienna Open. But, things were different this time which led many to wonder if Novak Djokovic was the only one subjected to these charges despite the incident being the exact same.

What happened with Novak Djokovic at the US Open 2020 and how was it similar to Daniil Medvedev’s incident?

In the 2020 US Open, Novak Djokovic faced horrible events. During a match against Pablo Carreno Busta, Djokovic unintentionally struck a line judge with a ball, not in play. This incident led to his disqualification from the tournament. This also raised questions about enforcing rules in professional tennis.

The Grand Slam rule book outlines a Code of Conduct for players that has penalties for various violations, including unsportsmanlike conduct and ball abuse. For the first offense, a warning is issued. This is followed by point penalties and game penalties for subsequent violations, as per the ‘Point Penalty Schedule.’

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However, Djokovic’s case invoked Section T of Article III: On-site Player Offenses. This allows the referee, in consultation with the Grand Slam chief of supervisors, to declare a default for either a single violation or in line with the point penalty schedule.

After the incident, Novak Djokovic was forced to withdraw from the match which gave his opponent Busta, a walkover from the match. The incident was faced with pure backlash where many suggested that Djokovic shouldn’t have been defaulted in the tournament. On the other hand, a similar incident happened recently when Daniil Medvedev, who was playing at the Vienna Open repeated the same instance.

However, this time, it was a fan that he hit. The event was unintentional but the ball was out of play. Despite this, he was allowed to play on and was not even given a warning for the instance. This led to many comparing the two instances and why Medvedev was allowed to let go of the incident which looked quite similar to what happened at the US Open 3 years back.

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Comparison of both incidents: Which was more serious?

Both incidents were of the same nature. While Djokovic unintentionally hit the line judge, Medvedev unintentionally hit the fan while the ball was out of play. However, one thing that caught the eye of many was the inconsistency in defaulting Medvedev from the incident. This incident raised questions about consistency in enforcing the rules in tennis.

The two incidents highlighted the need for a more generic approach. However, it is also essential to observe the nature of the incident. If the ball was intentionally hit or not. It is also important to distinguish between deliberate misconduct and accidents. The rules that are made should be followed very strictly and should be balanced with fairness and common sense. Tennis authorities should work towards ensuring consistent and just decision-making. While the incident involving Djokovic resulted him in withdrawing from the tournament, then why was Medvedev left in this case?

Many even ask that he should have been given a warning at least. However, nothing of that sort happened in the match. Ultimately, the Djokovic and Medvedev incidents are clear proofs of the loopholes that sometimes divide the opinion of the fans towards the sport. While a more generic approach is needed, incidents like these can severely impact the game.

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