THE line judge struck by Novak Djokovic’s wayward ball has received death threats – including a vile post saying she’ll join her dead son “soon”.
The US Tennis Association didn’t want to confirm Laura Clark’s name because vicious trolls have been sending her abuse over the incident at the Arthur Ashe Stadium at Flushing Meadows on Sunday.
Clark’s injury resulted in Djokovic being disqualified against Pablo Carreno Busta – even though the Serbian player was the top seed and heavy favourite to win the US Open.
His fans were not impressed with the decision and targeted Clark, writing hate-fuelled comments on her public profile before it was put on private.
In 2008, her son Josh in a died motorcycle accident, reports said, and one sick fan told her: “Don’t worry, you’ll be there soon,” in a disturbing Instagram comment.
Another sickeningly added: “Hahahahahahahahaha YEEEEES, YEEEEEEEES.”
In fact, almost every one of the posts on her profile, which was set up in 2011, has been targeted by trolls who have called her “sick” and an “alcoholic.”
One user bizarrely wrote on a picture promoting a wine company: “You can drink gallons of alcohol but not survive a small tennis ball… Bad acting. Shameless.”
Clark, who is from Kentucky, is currently staying at a hotel where the tournament doctor is observing her.
She will return to work when she’s fit to do so, a source told the New York Post.
Djokovic took to social media to tell his fans to stop the disgusting behaviour.
He wrote: “Dear #NoleFam thank you for your positive messages.
“Please also remember the linesperson that was hit by the ball last night needs our community’s support too.
“She’s done nothing wrong at all. I ask you to stay especially supportive and caring to her during this time.
“From these moments, we grow stronger and we rise above. Sharing love with everyone.”
He had earlier issued a grovelling apology, saying the “whole situation has left me really sad and empty” after he hit the ball in frustration.
He wrote: “I checked the line person and the tournament told me that thank goodness she’s feeling good.
“I am extremely sorry for causing her so much stress. So unintentionally. So wrong.
“I will not disclose her name to respect her privacy. As for the disqualification, I have to go back in and work on my disappointment and turn it all into a lesson for my growth and evolution as a player and human.
“I apologise to the US Open tournament and everyone involved for my behavior.
“I am very grateful to my team and family for being my rock support, and my fans for always being there with me. Thanks and I’m so sorry.”
The incident sparked a huge reaction online when Clark fell to the ground in great pain before Djokovic came to see if she was okay.
Djokovic had knocked a ball to the back wall of the court in Arthur Ashe Stadium after losing the match’s 11th game – but it struck the unsuspecting line judge.
The world No1 – who was looking to win his 18th major – was kicked out of the tournament as a result the “reckless” action, in keeping with Grand Slam “abuse of ball” guidelines.
He was fined £189,000 and docked of all his ranking points earned from the event.
Denis Shapovalov, who was also booted out of a 2017 David Cup match for accidentally hitting a ball at a chair umpire’s eye, weighed in on the controversy: “I’ve been through that myself. Honestly, I feel awful for him. I feel terrible for everybody. Nobody wants to be in this situation.
“Just a fluke. It’s accidents like this that happen. Same thing with me.”
Djokovic’s former coach Boris Becker added his views, writing in the Daily Mail the Serb will be “embarrassed”.
The German said: “He will have been feeling both embarrassed and frustrated by the events of the fourth round as they start to sink in. The fines will be expensive but other aspects to it will hurt him more.
“I said to him you can scream as much as you like, break your racket, but don’t throw things or hit the ball away. I was worried something like this might happen.
“He is a people person and wants to be appreciated like that. He is playing in the era of two tennis gods in Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer and is a bit of a gate-crasher.
“I think it does bother him that he is not as generally popular as they are.”
Former bad-boy John McEnroe added: “The pressure just got to him I think.
“Now whether he likes it or not, he’s going to be the bad guy the rest of his career. It’ll be interesting to see how he handles it.”
