During the first round of the ATP Tour tournament in Auckland, New Zealand, former No.1 British tennis player, Cameron Norrie, let his emotions get the best of him, as he tossed his racquet in the air which struck a fan.
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Britain's Cameron Norrie apologised and avoided disqualification when a racquet he tossed in the air struck a spectator during his first-round loss at the Auckland Open#ASBClassic25 | Details: https://t.co/tzFxVE5WZb
📽️: Tennis TV pic.twitter.com/Y29AsuMuoh— Sportstar (@sportstarweb) January 7, 2025
Following the match, Norrie took accountability for his actions.
"I wasn't meaning to do that but it's still not ideal to be doing that and I've never done something like that," Norrie said. "[The spectator) was laughing and I just said 'so sorry, I didn't mean to do that.' And she said 'yeah, I'm completely OK.'"
"That was not a big deal. But as we saw with some other players, you can easily be defaulted if it catches them in the wrong spot or they're not looking or something.
He continued, "I was not meaning to do that and it is completely not me to do something like that. I apologized very quickly and I want to apologize in general. I'm not happy with how I behaved."
With this in mind, to the surprise of many, Norrie was not defaulted for what took place.
As some pointed out that Novak Djokovic had been disqualified for a similar incident back during the 2020 US Open.
Can Norrie hits a spectator accidentally after losing a point. Very very Similar to Novak Djokovic’s 2020 US Open situation.
But no default…Rules apply only to Djokovic???? Where’s fair play @atptour ???pic.twitter.com/IoIV1hMlLu
— SK (@Djoko_UTD) January 7, 2025
Earlier today Cam Norrie threw his racket in anger into the crowd he was not defaulted. Alex Michelson as below launched a ball into the stands in a rage and wasn't defaulted.
Djokovic tapped a ball back towards ball boys (not in anger) and got defaulted.pic.twitter.com/gJdhzHbjp3
— Pavvy G (@pavyg) January 7, 2025
In view of the difference though, Norrie hit a fan with the racquet, but ultimately the spectator ended up being ok and laughed it off.
As for Djokovic the lines judge actually had to be taken off the court after being hit in her throat/neck area.
Wow. Novak Djokovic has been defaulted from the #USOpen after striking a lineswoman with a ball.
— Sacha Pisani (@Sachk0) September 6, 2020
All in all, it didn't matter that Norrie was not DQ'ed as he ended up losing 6-2, 6-3 to Facundo Diaz Acosta.
Achievement unlocked 🔓@Facudiazacosta earns his first Top 50 win on a hard court against two-time Auckland finalist Norrie 6-2 6-3. #ASBClassic25 pic.twitter.com/bsjnwXgtFY
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) January 7, 2025
To point out, a similar scenario happened during the 2023 Shanghai Masters when Australian player Marc Polmans hit a chair umpire and was disqualified from the match.
🚨 DISQUALIFICATION 🚨
Marc Polmans missed a volley on match point at 7-6(3), 6-6 (6-5) and then accidentally hit the umpire.
Stefano Napolitano advances to the main draw in Shanghai as a result.pic.twitter.com/9izXBA1BOl
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) October 3, 2023
