Zhang retires in tears after opponent erases mark on court
China’s Zhang Shuai retired from her Hungarian Grand Prix match in tears on Tuesday after her local opponent Amarissa Toth erased a ball mark on the clay court following a disputed line call.
Second seed Zhang hit a crosscourt forehand that appeared to land 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 incensed by 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.
“Wait, wait, wait! Keep the mark,” Zhang yelled. “What are you doing? Why would you do that?”
Zhang looked visibly distressed during the changeover and a physio was called to check on her before the world number 28 opted to retire while trailing 6-5 in the opening set of their round of 32 match in Budapest.
Tournament organisers defended the umpire’s decision.
“Thousands of cases like this happen all over the world. In this situation, it is the chair umpire who counts, who has awarded the point,” the tournament’s communications chief Erik Siklos told state news agency MTI.
The home crowd jeered Zhang’s retirement, while Toth shook hands with her before putting her arms up in celebration.
Zhang later took to Instagram to complain about the call and thanked those who supported her.
The Hungarian’s behaviour was swiftly condemned by fellow players on social media.
“Absolutely disgusting behaviour,” Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic wrote on Twitter. “Shuai is a better person than a lot of us for shaking the ref and that girl’s hand.”
Australian doubles player Ellen Perez said Toth had lost the respect of her peers.
“I’m actually shook by the level of disrespect from this girl… If I see this girl tomorrow I will tell her how disgusted I am.”
Toth defended her decision to erase the mark.
“I didn’t understand why she made such a fuss about it, that she wanted to overrule the umpire’s decision,” Toth told state radio Kossuth.
“I don’t understand why she didn’t accept it, all in all, it was she who was looking for trouble.”
生词记录
retire 退休，退赛
grand prix 国际大奖赛
opponent 体育比赛中的对手
clay 黏土，陶土
disputed 有争议的
line call 压线球判决
crosscourt 斜线的，向着对方半场的
forehand 正手击球
line judge 边线裁判
umpire 裁判
incensed 大怒的，被激怒的
call 裁决
distressed 烦乱的，焦虑的，忧虑的；拮据的，经济困难的
changeover 完全改变，大转变，更改
physio 物理治疗师
trail 小路；落后，失败
defend 辩护，保护，防卫
jeer 嘲笑
swiftly 迅速地
condemn 谴责
disgusting 令人厌恶的，使人反感的
ref 裁判
fuss 大惊小怪，过分激动
overrule 否决，驳回，宣布···无效
be looking for trouble 自找麻烦，招惹麻烦
