"Umpire is not fit to call claycourt matches": Navratilova gives verdict on horrific Zhang Shuai incident in Hungary
WTAThursday, 20 July 2023 at 10:45
Martin
Navratilova criticized the line judge at the Hungarian Grand Prix Budapest Open who was involved in
the controversy that led to Zhang Shuai's tearful retirement.
The Chinese
tennis player was competing in the first round of the Budapest Open in Hungary
against local player Amarissa Toth when she had a dispute with the line judge
over a ball that was called out but Zhang Shuai believed was in.
Read also
Despite
Zhang indicating the mark on the clay court, the line judge refused to come
down and check it, and the opponent erased the mark. In the midst of the
situation, the crowd booed Zhang, who experienced a panic attack and
subsequently retired from the match, leading to her opponent's celebration and
the applause from the audience for the local player's victory.
Martin
Navratilova took to social media to comment on the situation that occurred in
the second-round match between Zhang Shuai and Amarissa Toth.
"Pathetic
from any angle- umpire is not fit to call clay court matches and Toth is a bad
sport," 18-time Grand Slam champion wrote.
The support
from Navratilova adds to several other tennis players who have already come
forward to defend Zhang, including Ons Jabeur, Maria Sakkari, Denis Shapovalov,
and Ajla Tomljanovic. The 34-year-old tennis player expressed her gratitude for
the support she has received from her fans.
"All
efforts on practice was wrong, because when you wanted hitting closer to the
line, even touched the line still OUT," tweeted Zhang Shuai.
Zhang has
experienced a tough year with 13 consecutive losses, making it a forgettable
season. Her last singles victory came in the first round of the Lyon Open in
February of this year against Madison Brengle. However, despite the struggles
in singles, the 2-time Grand Slam champion in doubles managed to reach the
semifinals of the doubles event at Wimbledon alongside her partner Caroline
Dolehide.
As the 16th
seeds in the doubles draw, they put up a strong performance but were eventually
defeated by the third-seeded duo of Elise Mertens and Storm Sanders, who went
on to reach the final but were defeated by the team of Barbora Strycova and
Su-Wei Hsieh
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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