Tennis World Jubilant for Miyu Kato as Japanese Player Completes Fairytale and Confirms Disqualification Appeal: “So I Can Receive My Prize Money and Points”

Japanese tennis player Miyu Kato was a name that not many had heard outside of the very core of the tennis community until a few days ago. But as controversy often does, her name rang across the globe following her highly debatable disqualification from the women’s doubles category at Roland Garros. It was a heartbreaking moment for many tennis fans to see Kato break down and sob at the officials’ decision to default her. but the incident clearly gave Kato a sense of determination to get what she believed to be rightfully hers, winning the mixed doubles title with her German partner Tim Putz.

Facing Bianca Andreescu and Michael Venus for the title, Kato and Putz showed resilience to come back from a set down to lift the title, winning the final 4-6, 6-4, 10-6. Many who had not even heard of Kato until recently were up in celebration at her victory, labelling the series of events as karma. Kato herself was visibly overcome with emotions at the win and did not forget to mention her women’s doubles partner Aldila Sutjiadi and take a subtle dig at organizers by mentioning her appeal against the disqualification.

Tennis world rejoices for Miyu Kato and Tim Putz

Miyu Kato garnered a lot of attention when she hit a ball towards a ball girl, resulting in a disqualification. The Japanese player naturally was distraught at this and broke down, going on to apologize to her partner as well as the ball girl. Kato hitting the ball girl was very obviously not done with any malice or ill intention and so many fans, former and current players protested the decision to default her. And many of the neutral fans were rooting for her in the mixed doubles category, hoping for some justice.

The support for Kato is very overwhelming and ironic as it may be, her being defaulted from the women’s doubles category has made her a global tennis star now. She will certainly still be ruing the fact but will have some solace after capturing her maiden Grand Slam title. Of course, she will also be hopeful that her appeal to Roland Garros against the decision to take away her points and prize money from her women’s doubles will also be successful.

In her speech following the victory in the final, Miyu Kato did not shy away from mentioning the incident and even confirming that she will be appealing the decision.

“To Sara & Marie, Altdila & I hope we can play each other again somewhere & have a great match. Lastly to Roland Garros, it’s unfortunate about the disqualification. But I’m looking for a positive outcome for my appeal. So I can receive my points & prize money.”

All in all, what started off as a traumatic week for Kato turned into a celebration. A trade the Japanese player will be glad to make.