After facing backlash online from tennis fans and even fellow WTA players, Hungarian player Amarissa Toth has apologised to Zhang Shuai for erasing a ball mark during her Budapest Grand Prix match on Tuesday. A disputed line call, followed by unsportsmanlike behaviour from the crowd and her opponent, led the Chinese world number 28 to retire from the match in tears.
At 6-5 in the first set, Zhang hit a crosscourt forehand that looked to have landed on the line but was called out by the line judge. The chair umpire then stepped down to take a look at the mark and confirmed the ball had landed outside the line.
Zhang was unhappy about the call and asked to speak with the tournament supervisor. The match continued for one more point but the disagreement over the disputed call continued before Toth walked up to the mark and used her shoes to erase it.
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At the changeover, Zhang looked visibly distressed, and a physio was called to check on her before she opted to retire.
The home crowd jeered Zhang during the incident, while Toth shook hands with her before putting her arms up in celebration.
Toth’s behaviour was swiftly condemned by fellow players and greats such as Martina Navratilova on social media, with Zhang taking to Instagram to complain about the call and thanked those who supported her.
“I did not think that my first ever WTA main draw success of my career would cause such a storm,” Toth said in a statement uploaded to the Budapest Grand Prix’s Facebook page after her defeat to Ukraine’s Kateryna Baindl on Thursday.
“I am extremely sorry for what happened, I respect Zhang Shuai as a player and as a person. It was never my intention to disrespect, hurt or upset anybody, let alone Zhang Shuai.
“I do realise I shouldn’t have celebrated the way I celebrated after the match and I’m sorry for that. In the heat of the match and got caught up by my emotions and the moment. I focused on tennis, I didn’t want to win like that.
Toth, who initially defended her decision to erase the mark, added that she was hoping to speak with Zhang in the future to express her regret.
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