VIDEO: Sloane Stephens unhappy after ‘f****** b****’ tried to hit her

The China Open match between Sloane Stephens and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova turned into a fiery one.
Stephens won their first-round encounter 6-7 (8-10), 6-4, 6-4 on Sunday with the controversy starting when the American was about to serve for the second set at 5-2.
Pavlyuchenkova called for the trainer and the ninth seed made it clear that she thought her Russian opponent was using questionable tactics.
Stephens lost her serve when play resumed and, after Pavlyuchenkova reduced the deficit to 5-4, the American told umpire Jenny Zhang at the changeover: “That’s the sport we play. Right? Sportsmanship. That’s really important.”
With Zhang standing between the two players after Pavlyuchenkova called her opponent “disrespectful”, but Stephens hit back: “I’m disrespectful? What’s disrespectful? You called the physio at 5-2. You’re not even injured.”
The Russian then asked: “How do you know I’m not injured?”
Here’s what happened so far between Sloane Stephens and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in Beijing. Neither normally confrontational players. pic.twitter.com/LCfM1Cr1b7
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) September 30, 2018
The match went to a deciding third set and things again flared up in the fourth game when Stephens felt Pavlyuchenkova tried to hit her during a rally.
After the point she was seen mouthing “f*****g bitch tried to hit me”.
The WTA has so far opted not take disciplinary action against Stephens or Pavlyuchenkova.
More from Tennis365:
Latest
-
ATP Tour
Hubert Hurkacz comes through epic battle with Thanasi Kokkinakis
Hubert Hurkacz won a match that stands as the longest three-setter of the season to date.
-
Tennis News
WATCH: ‘Greek god’ Marton Fucsovics takes shirt off to reveal ripped body
Marton Fucsovics shows off his muscles again.
-
WTA Tour
Aryna Sabalenka eyes Iga Swiatek’s No 1 spot – Why Sabalenka could usurp the Pole in the coming months
Aryna Sabalenka’s world No 1 goal could be within touching distance.
-
ATP Tour
What Novak Djokovic needs to do to be top seed at French Open
Novak Djokovic has a big chance to be back at No 1 in time for the French Open.
-
Wimbledon
Wimbledon reach verdict on Russian players with announcement imminent
The decision on whether Russian and Belarusian players can compete at Wimbledon this summer has been made.
-
Tennis News
Tennis legend predicts how many Grand Slams Novak Djokovic will win
Novak Djokovic is “going to be winning majors as long as he’s healthy”.
-
WTA Tour
Aryna Sabalenka, WTA and Steve Simon slammed as tension in tennis continues to escalate
All is not well in women’s tennis.
-
ATP Tour
Carlos Alcaraz off the mark in Miami as Jimmy Connors explains why he is head and shoulders above his peers
Carlos Alcaraz up and running in Miami as Jimmy Connors waxes lyrical about Spaniard.