"Action the same, Novak Djokovic just way more unlucky": Andy Roddick decries Alex Michelsen escaping default despite hitting fan with frustrated shot
Novak Djokovic's default from the 2020 US Open has resurfaced as a talking point in light of Alex Michelsen's controversial conduct during the 2024 Winston-Salem Open final. Andy Roddick has decried the double standards on display, as Michelsen avoided a default despite committing a similar action as the Serb.
Michelsen took on Lorenzo Sonego in the final of the ATP 250 event but struggled to put up much of a challenge against the Italian. As Sonego took a commanding 4-0 lead in the opening set, the American launched a ball into the crowd in frustration.
The reckless shot struck a spectator, with Alex Michelsen immediately appearing anxious about the repercussions. The chair umpire, Aurelie Tourte, promptly checked on the fan to ensure there were no injuries and allowed play to continue. Michelsen also apologized to the fan before the match resumed, which eventually ended in a 6-0, 6-3 win for Sonego.
The incident was reminiscent of Novak Djokovic's infamous default from the 2020 US Open, which occurred when he inadvertently hit a lineswoman in the throat with his errant shot. However, the Serb was not allowed to continue playing and was instead disqualified from the Major on the spot.
The prevailing opinion on social media was that Alex Michelsen should've been defaulted, just as the 24-time Grand Slam champion had been, especially with the same umpire officiating both matches.
Andy Roddick concurred, opining that Alex Michelsen should have faced the same consequences as Novak Djokovic had, suggesting that Michelsen himself had reacted like he believed a default was imminent.
Roddick also asserted that the Serb was "way more unlucky" in his situation, arguing that hitting a line judge and a spectator were equally serious offenses.
"I kinda agree. If you fire one hard and hit a fan, kinda the same to me as an umpire. Action the same. One just way more unlucky. Michelsen reacted like he thought he was toast," he commented.
"It was not an automatic default as many believe" - Novak Djokovic hitting the line judge during 2020 US Open was not in "malice," says Paul McNamee
Novak Djokovic's default from the 2020 US Open was recently also referenced by Paul McNamee in response to the controversial ball bounce controversy between Felix Auger-Aliassime and Jack Draper at this year's Cincinnati Open.
McNamee pointed out that the use of video replays would have easily ascertained whether Auger-Aliassime's claim about Draper's ball touching the ground before crossing the net was correct.
The former doubles No. 1 also suggested that the same technology would've been useful during Djokovic's default from the New York Major, as it would've allowed the supervisor to see that the Serb's shot was not in "malice."
"Given the Draper-FAA shocker, why not allow replays in match defining points? Another example was the default of Djokovic at the US Open…if the supervisor had watched a replay he would have seen it was not egregious or in malice… it was not an automatic default as many believe," McNamee posted.
The video review system is in use at this year's US Open, with the likes of Frances Tiafoe and Coco Gauff welcoming its availability to prevent such controversies.