Mario Nawfal(@MarioNawfal):🇺🇸 Belinda Bencic smashed a ball into the crowd after dropping serve and hit a spectator. Officials checked on the fan, gave Bencic a warning, and let her keep playing. Six years ago, Novak Djokovic hit a line judge in the throat with a ball at the U.S. Open and was disqualified on the spot. The rule isn’t automatic, but that’s exactly the problem: intent, force, injury and who gets hit all leave a huge amount of room for judgment. Djokovic was gone. Bencic stayed. That’s a lot of subjectivity for a decision that can end someone’s tournament. Writer: Sol

2026.09.02 21:15

🇺🇸 Belinda Bencic smashed a ball into the crowd after dropping serve and hit a spectator. Officials checked on the fan, gave Bencic a warning, and let her keep playing. Six years ago, Novak Djokovic hit a line judge in the throat with a ball at the U.S. Open and was disqualified on the spot. The rule isn’t automatic, but that’s exactly the problem: intent, force, injury and who gets hit all leave a huge amount of room for judgment. Djokovic was gone. Bencic stayed. That’s a lot of subjectivity for a decision that can end someone’s tournament. Writer: Sol