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Chinese tennis player Zhang Shuai is a two-time Olympian and two-time major tournament champion, having taken the top prize in doubles at the 2019 Australian Open and 2021 U.S. Open. On July 18, the champ was playing in a Round of 32 match at the WTA Tour’s Hungarian Grand Prix against Hungarian native Amarissa Tóth. But the day ended in controversy after Tóth appeared to interfere with the fair running of the game.
One of Zhang’s shots seemed to kick up chalk on the clay court‘s out-of-bounds line, which would have given her the point. The line judge ruled that it was out, and the umpire agreed when they looked at it themselves. While Zhang appealed to the judges to take a closer look, Tóth walked over to the spot and wiped away the mark with her foot.
Zhang continued to play through the first set, but soon went to the sidelines and asked for medical personnel. She started to cry and chose to pull out of the match, shaking hands with Tóth and the judge. She recently admitted she has been struggling with her mental health, and she appeared to have a panic attack after the crowd booed her for protesting the questionable call.
Later that day, she posted a video of the moment in question and thanked everyone who was on her side, including fellow tennis players.
The moment stirred up controversy the following day too. The tournament’s Facebook page responded to comments on a video showing Tóth’s post-match interview. The account asserted in one reply, “The Chinese are manipulating the world with manipulative video.” Polish tennis champ Magda Linette called it “the worst response by a tournament [she’s] ever seen.”
The WTA wasn’t pleased, to say the least. The governing body shared a statement shortly thereafter addressing the comment.
“The WTA has zero tolerance for racism in any form or context,” the organization tweeted. “The unfortunate incident that took place yesterday at the Hungarian Grand Prix and subsequent posts are being reviewed and will be addressed.”
Tóth, meanwhile, advanced to the Round of 16 in the tournament. She was defeated by Ukrainian player Kateryna Baindl on July 20. Tennis journalist José Morgado voiced what many were perhaps thinking: “Some will say it’s karma.”
It seems like one of clay courts’ biggest faults is the fact that sneaky players can erase evidence of debatable shots with a swipe of their shoe.
