Djokovic calls racquet throw near line judge 'lucky'

On Thursday in Paris, Novak Djokovic topped Tomas Berdych in clinical fashion, 6-3, 7-5, 6-3 to reach his sixth consecutive French Open semifinal.

The world No. 1 was in complete control for the majority of the match, but for one moment he lost his cool—and it almost cost him everything.

In the second game of the third set, the Serb threw his racquet in frustration. It bounced erratically backward, and narrowly missed hitting a line judge, who was able to get out of the way:

Djokovic, seeking his fourth consecutive major title and a career Grand Slam, could have been disqualified from the match had his racquet hit the line judge (though it would have been up to the umpire to make the decision).

Following his straight-set victory, the 11-time Grand Slam champion admitted that he’s lucky no one got hurt.

“I threw a racquet on the ground and it slipped and almost hit the line umpire,” Djokovic said. “I was lucky there. That’s all.”

This isn’t the first time that Djokovic has lost control of his frame. In the final in Rome last month, Djokovic accidentally flung his racquet all the way into the stands.

“I’m just not thinking about those kind of situations,” Djokovic said in Paris. “I’m trying not [to] worry about it at all. I am aware that I have been lucky, and I apologized to, you know, to people that have been in this particular situation with me and that could have been hurt by my racquet. But, you know, it was never the intention. It was just some unfortunate bounce, but [there was a] fortunate ending.”

He still has an opportunity to win his first French Open as he takes on 13th-seeded Dominic Thiem in the semifinals. Thiem defeated David Goffin, 4-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4, 6-1 on Thursday.

The other semifinal will pit world No. 2 Andy Murray against defending champion Stan Wawrinka.