Rafael Nadal says Novak Djokovic suffered the ‘peak of bad luck’ when he was disqualified from this year’s US Open.
Djokovic was defaulted in the fourth round when he accidentally hit a line-judge with a spare ball after being broken.
Nadal, though, who decided to skip the tournament, said he had sympathy for his rival.
“I was watching golf at home when Djokovic was disqualified from the US Open,” Nadal told La Resistencia. “People started sending me messages.
“[They said ‘my gosh, have you seen what’s happening?!’ I started watching when they were [disqualifying him].
“I don’t think they were deciding anything. It was clear. It had to be done.
“When I saw the moment, I thought he was out. The rule is clear. It was the peak of bad luck and it’s a shame, but the referee, the supervisor, had no options.
“The fact is, it’s a complicated decision but if he doesn’t take it he’s not applying the rules.
