WATCH: Player and Budapest crowd slammed for ‘disgusting’ actions – ‘I am so so mad, I feel so bad for Shuai’

Shahida Jacobs
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Zhang Shuai waving
Zhang Shuai after a match

There were “disgusting” scenes at the Hungarian Grand Prix on Tuesday as Zhang Shuai retired from her match against Amarissa Toth after suffering a panic attack following a controversial point.

Former world No 22 Zhang took on local wildcard Toth in the first round of the WTA 250 event and it was pretty even steven midway during the opening set as both players broke twice.

However, all hell broke loose in game 11 with the Chinese player serving with the score 5-5.

One of Zhang’s shots was called wide and she wanted the chair umpire to check the mark, but the 20-year-old Toth walked over and decided to use her foot to clear the mark despite calls from her opponent not to do so.

Zhang could be heard shouting: “Wait, wait, keep the mark.” After the youngster rubbed out the mark, she shouted: “What are you doing? Why did you do that?”

The chair umpire then decided it was time to play on and announced that the score was 30 all, but Zhang stood her ground and continued to argue with both Toth and the official.

The second seed was then booed by the Budapest crowd and suffered a panic attack before forfeiting the match.

After shaking hands with the chair umpire and her opponent, Zhang slumped back into her seat while Toth celebrated her first-ever WTA Tour win.

While exiting the court, Zhang also had words with some of the spectators.

Several WTA stars took to Twitter to throw their weight behind Zhang while they also expressed their outrage at Toth and the crowd.

Ajla Tomljanovic wrote: “Absolutely disgusting behavior. Shuai is a better person than a lot of us for shaking the ref and that girl’s hand. But then again it’s Shuai we are talking about , ofc she did.”

The world No 63’s fellow Australian Daria Saville wrote: “Zero respect for this Toth girl. ZERO!!!! I am so so mad, I feel so bad for Shuai.”

Zhang herself took to Twitter to express her frustration:

“All efforts on practice was wrong , because when you wanted hitting closer to the line , even touched the line still OUT…” she wrote.

“I love you guys and all girls who supporting me and standing my side.”

World No 5 Caroline Garcia replied: We All know what kind girl you are @zhangshuai121 🙏🏻🙌🏻🤗 Take care of yourself.”

Zhang Shuai, who won the 2019 Australian Open women’s doubles title and 2021 US Open women’s doubles trophy alongside Sam Stosur, turned professional in 2003 and admitted recently that she was starting to consider retirement.

“After my grandparents passed away, I started thinking about the meaning of life,” she said. “I am 34. I’ve played tennis for 29 years. I’ve tried all my best, but everyone has a limit. I feel deeply tired, especially mentally. I miss Chinese food in China.”

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