In a recent tennis match that has sparked widespread controversy, 20-year-old Hungarian player Kiara Toth has been dubbed the most disliked woman in the sport. Her questionable conduct during a match against China's Zhang Shuai at the Hungarian Grand Prix has drawn criticism from players and fans alike.
The incident occurred during the round of 32 when the match was tied 5-5 in the opening set. Shuai hit a cross-court forehand that seemed to land on the line, but the umpire called it out. Shuai protested the decision and called for a match supervisor to review the call. In the meantime, Toth walked over to the line and erased the ball mark with her foot, an act that has been widely condemned as unsportsmanlike.
Shuai questioned Toth's actions, to which Toth responded, "Because you're making problems, that's why." This response further fueled the controversy, as umpires often use ball marks to determine their calls, especially on clay courts where there is no line technology.
As the match paused due to Shuai's request for a review, a spectator shouted "time violation," causing Toth to laugh. When the game resumed, Shuai faced boos from Toth's home crowd. Despite winning the game, Shuai retired from the match in tears.
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. https://t.co/GVcQ1NoPKe — Ajla Tomljanovic (@Ajlatom) July 18, 2023
Shuai displayed sportsmanship by shaking both her opponent's and the umpire's hands before leaving the court, even as Toth celebrated her retirement. Following the incident, Shuai received an outpouring of support from the tennis community on Twitter.
Australian doubles player Ellen Perez was among those who expressed their disgust at Toth's behavior, stating, "Well that's a quick way to lose respect from your peers. I'm actually shook by the level of disrespect from this girl."
Ajla Tomljanovic, another Australian tennis player, praised Shuai's composure, tweeting, "Absolutely disgusting behaviour. Shuai is a better person than a lot of us for shaking the ref and that girl's hand. But then again, it's Shuai we are talking about, of course she did."
Other players also chimed in, with Daria Seville stating, "Toth 'won' this point and 'won' this match but her reputation is ruined." Victoria Azarenka called Toth's behavior "another level of unsportsmanlike conduct," and Kristina Mladenovic labeled it as "unacceptable."
This incident has ignited a debate about sportsmanship in tennis, with many players and fans expressing their disappointment in Toth's actions. The repercussions of this event on Toth's career and reputation within the tennis community remain to be seen.
