"If the ballkid was a boy, it would have been ok": Miyu Kato gives bizarre reasoning given why French Open default happened
WTAFriday, 23 June 2023 at 17:30
Miyu Kato was controversially disqualified from the 2023 French Open Women's Doubles alongside partner Aldila Sutjiadi in the third round after Kato inadvertently struck a ball girl in the neck.
Kato saw the tennis world gather behind her but still this appeal was rejected and instead she was slapped with a fine. Speaking to CLAY Magazine though, she cited the ball kid's gender and the duration they cried as the reasoning given.
She said she was told that if it was a boy, it would've been different as well as because it was on the neck compared to other body parts.
"The umpire and the supervisor talked to me afterward and said, 'If the ballkid was a boy, it would have been ok,'" Miyu Kato said.
"They also explained to me that since the girl cried for more than 15 minutes they had to make a decision because if she had stopped after five minutes, everything would have been alright; or if the ball had hit her legs or arms, everything would have been okay. But no, because it was in the neck it was different," she added.
Many under the tweet by The Tennis Letter called out the sexism in play. "Apparently boys don’t cry. Or French boys don’t. At least not for more than 5 minutes."
"The world is getting soft." as well as some being left without words. "I'm not often utterly speechless but on this occasion I am utterly speechless."
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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