"It's really disrespectful" - Hantuchova blasts Azarenka retirement

Daniela Hantuchova has slammed world number 16 Victoria Azarenka for the manner in which she retired from her Miami Open third round match against Czech 16-year-old sensation Linda Fruhvirtova.

Azarenka was being beaten handily 6-2 3-0 by her 279th ranked opponent when the 32-year-old abruptly retired from the match. Most surprisingly, the Belarusian did not appear to give the chair umpire any explanation as to why she was retiring, leaving fans in the stadium confused.

SPeaking about it on Amazon Prime, Hantuchova said:

"There was already a lot of mental baggage in the first set and I guess [Azarenka] just completely lost it. The most disrespectful thing about this is how she walked off the court without really giving a reason [for retiring]. I think the WTA will really have to look into this."

She further went into Azarenka:

“This one for me is really bizarre and really disrespectful to the crowd, to the umpire and most importantly to Linda (Fruhvirtova). I think Vika (Azarenka) just knows if she kept going this way she would be off the court anyway very shortly. But just the way she’s done it, it’s not nice behaviour.”

Azarenka did apologise after the match saying she needs a break from tennis.