Tennis star retires after panic attack brought on by rival's controversial move
Chinese tennis star Zhang Shuai retired in tears and suffered a panic attack after a controversial line call in her first-round match at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The second seed was level 5-5 in the opening set against local opponent Amarissa Toth when she hit a crosscourt forehand that appeared to land on the line. It was controversially called out by the line judge though, with the chair umpire stepping down to inspect the mark on the clay court.
The umpire affirmed the line judge's decision, but after cameras zoomed in, the ball appeared to have left a mark on the line, suggesting that decision was incorrect. Zhang was left incensed and began urging the umpire to overturn her call.
The Chinese star then requested to speak with the tournament supervisor before the game continued for one more point. Though Zhang won that point, the match continued to be overshadowed by the controversial line call.
Toth then took matters into her own hands, walking up to the mark and scrubbing it out with her shoe. That left Zhang furious, as she could be heard saying: "Wait, wait, wait! Keep the mark. What are you doing? Why would you do that?"
Callous tennis star slams rival who suffered panic attack after on-court bust-up
Toth was unrepentant, replying: "Because you're making problems, that's why." During the changeover, Zhang looked visibly distressed, with a physio called onto the court to check on her.
A tearful Zhang then took the decision to retire, shaking hands with the umpire and Toth before pointing at the sections of the crowd who had been booing her after the incident. Toth meanwhile immediately lifted her arms in celebration.
Zhang later took to social media to reiterate her frustration with the umpire's seemingly wrong decision. And she thanked her fans for their support of her after what was a difficult day for the world No.28.
Zhang's opponent Amarissa Toth had rubbed out a mark appearing to prove one of her shots was inShe wrote: "All efforts on practice was wrong, because when you wanted hitting closer to the line, even touched the line, but still called OUT. I love you guys and all girls who supporting me and standing my side."
Toth was widely condemned by other tennis stars for her actions, with many slamming her "disrespect". Australian doubles star Ellen Perez said: "Well that's a quick way to lose respect from your 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."
Fellow Aussie Ajla Tomljanovic praised Zhang for her sportsmanship. She added: "Absolutely disgusting behaviour. Shuai is a better person than a lot of us for shaking the ref and that girl's hand. But then again it's Shuai we are talking about, of course she did."
Daria Saville also didn't hold back, posting: "Zero respect for this Toth girl. ZERO! I am so so so mad. I feel so bad for Shuai. Toth 'won' this point and 'won' this match but her reputation is ruined." Toth will play Ukrainian Kateryna Baindl in the last 16 on Thursday.
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