China’s Zhang Shuai on Tuesday retired from her Hungarian Grand Prix match in tears after her local opponent Amarissa Toth erased a ball mark on the clay court following a disputed line call.
Second seed Zhang hit a crosscourt forehand that appeared to land on the line, but was called out by the line judge. The chair umpire then stepped down to take a look at the mark and confirmed the ball had landed outside the line.
Zhang was incensed by the call and asked to speak with the tournament supervisor.
Photo: Reuters
The match continued for one more point, but the disagreement over the disputed call continued, before Toth walked up to the mark and used her shoes to erase it.
“Wait, wait, wait. Keep the mark,” Zhang yelled. “What are you doing? Why would you do that?”
Zhang looked visibly distressed during the changeover and a physical therapist was called to check on her before the world No. 28 opted 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 before putting her arms up in celebration.
Zhang later took to Instagram to complain about the call and thanked those who supported her.
The Hungarian’s behavior was swiftly condemned by fellow players on social media.
“Absolutely disgusting behavior,” Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic wrote on Twitter. “Shuai is a better person than a lot of us for shaking the ref and that girl’s hand.”
Australian doubles player Ellen Perez said that Toth had lost the respect of her peers.
“I’m actually shook by the level of disrespect from this girl... If I see this girl tomorrow I will tell her how disgusted I am,” she wrote.
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