Amarissa Toth has shocked the tennis world with a series of ‘disgusting’ acts at the clay-court Budapest Open that left her veteran opponent Zhang Shuai in tears. Shuai, a former world No.22, retired from the event in a visibly distressed state after a protracted argument over a line call against her 20-year-old Hungarian opponent.
The drama unfolded in the first set when a ball was called out that the popular Chinese player was convinced had landed in. ‘Oh my god. I need a referee. No way,’ Shuai said, with the commentators agreeing that the ball looked like it had caught the line and landed in.
Shuai went on to win the game, but looked out of sorts afterwards and called a doctor onto court. TV commentators explained that Shuai was crying a ‘flood of tears’, with one calling the episode a ‘panic attack’.
Shuai argued with the umpire for several minutes before the tournament supervisor was brought to the court to deal with the incident. Toth could then be seen walking towards the contested ball marking and scuffing it out with her foot. Toth responded by saying: ‘Because you’re making problems, that’s why.’
The 34-year-old then retired from the match, quickly shaking hands with the umpire and Toth before pointing at sections of the crowd who had booed her. Toth immediately celebrated the highly controversial victory, throwing both hands into the air to the applause of her fans.
Toth’s conduct during the match was slammed by fans and players as ‘shameful’ and a ‘new low for sportsmanship’. Aussie star Ellen Perez took to social media to declare her disgust over the ordeal.
‘Well that’s a quick way to lose respect from your peers. I’m actually shook by the level of disrespect from this girl,’ Perez wrote. ‘If I see this girl tomorrow I will tell her how disgusted I am.’
‘All efforts on practice was wrong, because when you wanted hitting closer to the line, even touched the line still OUT,’ Shuai wrote afterwards on social media. ‘I love you guys and all girls who supporting me and standing (by) my side.’
Ajla Tomljanovic also rallied around Shuai, posting on Twitter: ‘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’.
Aussie Daria Saville didn’t hold back, either, 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.’
Australian doubles star Rennae Stubbs also jumped in to criticise Toth. ‘And that umpire needs to find another job ASAP! She also should be getting hammered for this,’ Stubbs wrote.
Shuai, one of the most loved and respected players in the game, has previously opened up about her mental health issues and recently broke down in tears after a loss at the French Open in May.
