China’s Zhang Shuai retired from her match at the Hungarian Grand Prix in tears on Tuesday. This came after her opponent, Amarissa Toth, erased a ball mark on the clay court following a disputed line call. Zhang, the second seed, hit a crosscourt forehand that seemed to land on the line but was called out by the line judge. The chair umpire then examined the mark and confirmed that the ball had landed outside the line. Zhang was furious about the call and requested to speak with the tournament supervisor.
Despite the disagreement over the disputed call, the match continued for one more point. However, Toth walked up to the mark and used her shoes to erase it. Zhang shouted, “Wait, wait, wait! Keep the mark. What are you doing? Why would you do that?” Zhang appeared visibly distressed during the changeover, and a physio was called to check on her. Ultimately, she decided to retire while trailing 6-5 in the opening set of their round of 32 match in Budapest.
The home crowd jeered Zhang’s retirement, while Toth shook hands with her and celebrated. Zhang later took to Instagram to express her dissatisfaction with the call and thanked those who supported her. However, Toth’s behavior was swiftly criticized by fellow players on social media. Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic wrote on Twitter, “Absolutely disgusting behavior. Shuai is a better person than a lot of us for shaking the ref and that girl’s hand.” Australian doubles player Ellen Perez also condemned Toth, stating that she had lost the respect of her peers. Perez added, “If I see this girl tomorrow, I will tell her how disgusted I am.”
In conclusion, Zhang’s retirement due to the disputed line call and Toth’s actions on the court have sparked controversy and condemnation. The incident has raised questions about sportsmanship and fair play in tennis.
