Zhang Shuai left the court in floods of tears (Picture: @popalorena/@harryyamamoto)
Chinese tennis player Zhang Shuai retried from a match in tears on Tuesday after her opponent Amarissa Toth was embroiled in a cheating scandal.
The incident occurred during the pair’s round-of-32 match at the Budapest Grand Prix on the WTA Tour – with several players condemning Toth for her behaviour.
At 5-5 in a close-fought first set, Shuai challenged a call from the line judge that one of her shots had landed out.
The Budapest Grand Prix is played on outdoor clay courts, meaning that it can be clearly seen where the ball lands as it creates a mark on the red dirt.
But before the umpire came down from their chair to check where the shot had landed, Toth walked over to the mark and rubbed it away with her foot.
Zhang, 34, was left absolutely furious and shouted: ‘Wait, wait, wait! Keep the mark. What are you doing? Why would you do that?’
The home crowd were firmly behind Hungarian player Toth, who replied: ‘Because you’re making problems, that’s why.’
Zhang was jeered by spectators as she asked to speak with the tournament supervisor and one fan could be heard shouting ‘time violation’ as Toth, 20, laughed at the comment.
Play continued and Zhang was heavily booed as she won the next game to lead 6-5.
Zhang looked visibly distressed during the changeover and a physio was called to check on her – before the world No.28 decided to retire from the match in tears.
The crowd jeered Zhang again following her retirement and the Chinese star shook hands with both the umpire and Toth before leaving the court.
Toth celebrated with fans following her opponent’s retirement, putting her arms up in the air.
Ajla Tomljanovic, a member of the cast on Netflix tennis documentary Break Point, was one of several players who slammed Toth for her actions.
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‘Absolutely disgusting behaviour,’ Tomljanovic said. ‘Shuai is a better person than a lot of us for shaking the ref and that girl’s hand.’
Australian doubles player Ellen Perez added: ‘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.’
Zhang, meanwhile, took to social media after the scandal and said: ‘All efforts on practice was wrong, because when you wanted hitting closer to the line, even touched the line still OUT… I love you guys and all girls who supporting me and standing my side.’
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‘I’m actually shook by the level of disrespect…’
