Novak Djokovic’s disqualification from the 2020 US Open is being talked about again because of Alex Michelsen’s behavior during the 2024 Winston-Salem Open final.
Andy Roddick has criticized the different treatment shown, as Michelsen did not get disqualified even though he did something similar to what Djokovic did.

In the final of the ATP 250 event, Michelsen faced off against Lorenzo Sonego but found it difficult to compete with the Italian.
Sonego quickly took a 4-0 lead in the first set, causing Michelsen to throw a ball into the crowd in frustration.

Unfortunately, the ball hit a spectator, making Michelsen feel worried about what had happened. The chair umpire, Aurelie Tourte, checked on the fan to make sure they were okay and then allowed the game to continue. Michelsen apologized to the fan before the match resumed, but Sonego ended up winning 6-0, 6-3.

The situation reminded many of when Novak Djokovic was disqualified from the 2020 US Open for accidentally hitting a lineswoman with his shot. People on social media felt that Alex Michelsen should have been disqualified too, since the same umpire was in charge of both matches.

Andy Roddick agreed and said that Alex Michelsen should have received the same punishment as Novak Djokovic. He mentioned that Michelsen seemed to think he was going to be disqualified. Roddick also stated that Djokovic was more unlucky and that hitting a line judge and a spectator were equally serious actions.

Paul McNamee recently mentioned Novak Djokovic’s disqualification from the 2020 US Open when discussing the ball bounce controversy involving Felix Auger-Aliassime and Jack Draper at this year’s Cincinnati Open.

McNamee mentioned that if video replays were used, it could have quickly shown whether Auger-Aliassime’s statement about Draper’s ball hitting the ground before crossing the net was true.

He also recommended that this technology could have been helpful during Djokovic’s disqualification from the New York Major, as it would have enabled the supervisor to see that the Serb’s shot was not intentional.

This year’s US Open is using a video review system, which players like Frances Tiafoe and Coco Gauff appreciate because it helps avoid controversies.