Tennis stars slam ‘disgusting behaviour’ that led opponent to have panic assault

Tennis gamers have rallied round Zhang Shuai after the 34-year-old had a panic attack and retired from her match on the Hungarian Tennis Grand Prix. While going through 20-year-old wildcard Amarissa Kiara Toth, one in every of Zhang’s pictures was known as out regardless of showing to be in. The world No 548 then rubbed out the mark and ignored Zhang’s pleas earlier than the Chinese star retired in tears – one thing Ajla Tomljanovic branded “disgusting”.

Multiple tennis gamers have come out to help Zhang after she was booed after being compelled to retire from her WTA 250 Budapest match whereas having a panic assault. The umpire had known as one in every of her pictures out at 5-5 that seemed to be in on video replays and the world No 45 disputed this, additionally calling the supervisor to the courtroom.

After the following level, Toth rubbed out the mark together with her foot regardless of Zhang begging her to not – more likely to refer again to it after the match. The 34-year-old turned distressed and the physio was known as on the subsequent changeover however Zhang forfeited the match in tears and was booed by the Hungarian followers.

Footage of each the ball mark incident and her retirement has since gone viral and several other of Zhang’s rivals and colleagues have come out to slam Toth. World No 63 Tomljanovic had one of many strongest reactions, tweeting: “Absolutely disgusting behavior. Shuai is a better person than a lot of us for shaking the ref and that girls hand. But then again it’s Shuai we are talking about , ofc she did.”

Several different gamers additionally vouched for Zhang’s type nature – a telling assertion of her nice fame on the tour. World No 5 Caroline Garcia wrote: “We All know what kind girl you are @zhangshuai121 Take care of yourself.”

And fellow prime 15 star Daria Kasatkina added: “Omg what’s that reaction from opponent, I cannot believe. Very bad referee, very bad sportsmanship. Shuai. big hug to you my friend.” Austrian star Daria Saville posted a number of tweets in regards to the incident, backing Zhang and condemning Toth.

“honestly what the F!!!” she began, earlier than including: “this is so so so so so so wrong. zero respect for this Toth girl. ZERO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so so so mad. I feel so bad for Shuai :(“ Alongside four vomiting emojis, Saville also wrote: “Toth ‘won’ this point and ‘won’ this match but her reputation is ruined………..”