Roland Garros was in for a controversial day when the organizers decided to disqualify women’s doubles pair Miyu Kato and Aldila Sutjiadi when a ball struck by Kato hit a ball girl. While initially after the incident it looked like it would lead only to a warning and nothing more, things took a drastic turn following a bit of deliberation and interjection by the pair’s opponents, Sara Sorribes Tormo and Marie Bouzkova. And for the part they player in getting their opponents disqualified, tennis fans have a bone to pick with Tormo and Bouzkova and they’re expressing themselves in a vehement manner.
Following the incident, many called for the organizers to rethink when to enforce such rules and how Japanese player Kato did not deserve such a fate. Despite everything, Kato apologized to the ball girl, to her partner, team and fans and was clearly distressed with everything that had transpired. She lost all the points and prize money she had earned by making it this far in the tournament and will now have to place all her bets on her mixed doubles fate. And fans across the globe had a lot of sympathy for Kato while many had a thing or two to say about Tormo and Bouzkova’s behavior.
Sara Sorribes Tormo and Marie Bouzkova face backlash from fans
What seemed like a simple matter of a startled ball girl reduced to tears due to the sudden attention and focus on her quickly changed into serious business. Officials initially seemed fine with giving just a warning to Kato and Sutjiadi but Sara Sorribes and Marie Bouzkova had other plans. They protested to the officials with indignation, apparently even asking for the disqualification by mentioning that the ball girl was hurt.
Here’s how the tennis community reacted to the whole fiasco.
They are saying that even if it was involuntary, she is responsible.
The truth is the girl had a panic attack and began crying.
Seems very likely she is gonna get defaulted. pic.twitter.com/whSq8B9pOo— No F Body (@no_fcking_body) June 4, 2023
Today we see what kind of athlete you are @sara_sorribes , no sportsmanship at all. In similar case of Novak, PCB didn’t interfere umpire and referee. If you could win the match, you wouldn’t do such things. Shame on you!! pic.twitter.com/vvxr8OaoEf
— c.p.mita (@cpramita001) June 4, 2023
Miyu Kato & Aldila Sutjiadi were disqualified from their Roland Garros doubles match
Kato hit a ball boy in the chest, but wasn’t hitting the ball in anger. The ball boy was crying
They were initially only given a warning, but were eventually defaultedpic.twitter.com/zymNJDKvo8
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) June 4, 2023
Miyu Kato & Aldila Sutjiadi show they are true sportswomen. They didn’t need to apologise as video confirms they didn’t do anything wrong.
The only people who need to apologise are Sara Sorribes Tormo, Marie Bouzkova for their unsportive behaviour and the supervisor for DQ. https://t.co/mSRNhJcBgB— Reem (@reemsaied) June 5, 2023
Reminder that @MarieBouzkova and Sorribes Tormo were laughting at Miyu Kato when she cried, and they forced chair umpire to call supervisor and demanted to disqualify Miyu and her partner.
Initially Miyu got just a warning. @WTA where are you when justice is not served? https://t.co/iRr4Rytjpd— Smithy🏳🌈🐻❤️ (@Arthus92) June 4, 2023
I’ve never witnessed more pathetic competitors in my life. Sorribes Tormo and Bouzkova should be ashamed of themselves….. they wanted a free win rather than play tennis… disgusting ..
Aldila Sutjiadi and Miyu Kato should hold their heads up high.. the sport failed them
— AbdulGaffar 🌸 (@AbdulGaffar____) June 5, 2023
Honestly so embarrassed by Marie Bouzkova and Sara Sorribes Tormo, who adamantly forced a default to take a win in their doubles after this obvious accident.
I imagine they’ll lose a LOT of respect in the locker room.
Ridiculous. https://t.co/AuLA2gmbVX
— Ben Lewis (@BenLewisMPC) June 4, 2023
When the decision was announced, Kato too was reduced to tears and could be seen sobbing as her partner consoled her. Even former French tennis player Giles Simons had something to say on the whole debacle.
She and @sara_sorribes were having a good time with the fans too while Kato was left in tears for something unintentional.. Enough to say about their level of sportmanship 🤡pic.twitter.com/ZVI4mhgUV3
— #txtdarijonathan (@senorjoey) June 4, 2023
Gilles Simon rightfully criticizes Bouzkova and Sorribes Tormo for demanding Kato/Sutjiadi’s default when they didn’t even see it happen.
“I hope they have trouble falling asleep tonight” he says before adding how stupid the supervisor’s decision was. https://t.co/nUZuJfp7zG
— Gaspar Ribeiro Lança (@gasparlanca) June 4, 2023
Alize Cornet too expressed her support for Miyu Kato and her partner while also taking a shot at Sorribes and Bouzkova.
Insane decision. I really feel sorry for you 😔 but a lot of players (except Marie and Sara obviously) are supporting you ✊️
— Alize Cornet (@alizecornet) June 4, 2023
Sara Sorribes Tormo not doing great…
Sara Sorribes faced quite the backlash online for her actions. In fact, many even celebrated her singles loss to Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia, calling it karma. The match which lasted 3 hours and 51 minutes is the longest one on tour this year and ended 6-7(3), 6-3, 7-5 in Maia’s favor. Many hailed this result
In THREE HOURS & 51 MINUTES. on her fourth match point in the fourth round of #RolandGarros, Beatriz Haddad Maia defeats Sara Sorribes Tormo, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 7-5.
🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯
You might want to check out these match details:
— TENNIS (@Tennis) June 5, 2023
Bia Haddad Maia has completed the comeback as she is in the QFs of #RolandGarros for the first time.
On the other hand, Sara Sorribes Tormo completes the massive choke. A day after her inexcusable antics, she blows set and double break up. Karma? You’d think 😉
— José Moregado (@josemoregado) June 5, 2023
Bia Haddad Maia has completed the comeback as she is in the QFs of #RolandGarros for the first time.
On the other hand, Sara Sorribes Tormo completes the massive choke. A day after her inexcusable antics, she blows set and double break up. Karma? You’d think 😉
— José Moregado (@josemoregado) June 5, 2023
Miyu Kato on the other hand had better fortunes to look forward to, winning her quarter final match in the mixed doubles category. Kato and her partner Tim Putz beat their opponents Luisa Stefani and Rafael Matos 7-6(5), 6-2 to proceed to the semi final.
Miyu Kato after today’s mixed doubles 😥 pic.twitter.com/6c4HHpBh6f
— WTA Fans (@WTA_Fans1) June 5, 2023
A nice moment for Miyu Kato, who after being defaulted from women’s doubles (losing all the points and prize-money) was allowed to continue in the Mixed and just qualified for the semifinals alongside Tim Puetz with a win over #AusOpen champs Matos/Stefani 7-6(5), 6-2.
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) June 5, 2023
This will be a very welcome victory for Kato who had to let go off her points and prize money from the women’s doubles category.
