Toth continued at the Hungarian Grand Prix after retiring from a rival match
Amarissa Kiara Toth’s controversial actions during her first-round tennis match against Zhang Shuai at the Hungarian Grand Prix this week were widely condemned; she has now issued an apology.
During the match, as Zhang Shuai sought clarification from the umpire about a ball mark on the clay court, Toth erased the mark with her foot. This led to a heated exchange between Shuai and the umpire, eventually resulting in a reported panic attack by Shuai, forcing her to retire from the match.
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Amarissa Kiara Toth‘s conduct didn’t end there; she was seen celebrating Shuai’s departure from the match while the latter was in tears.
In a statement posted on her Facebook, AmarissaToth expressed remorse, saying, “I did not anticipate that the first-ever WTA main draw success of my career would spark such controversy. I deeply regret what happened, and I hold Zhang Shuai in high regard, both as a player and as a person. It was never my intention to show disrespect, cause harm, or upset anyone, especially Zhang Shuai.”
She continued, “I now realize that I should not have celebrated the way I did after the match, and for that, I am genuinely sorry. My actions were driven by the intensity of the moment and my emotions. My sole focus was on tennis, and I did not want to win under such circumstances.”
The pivotal moment during the match occurred when Shuai hit a cross-court forehand that seemed to land on the line. However, the shot was deemed out, leading Shuai to protest the call and request a match supervisor’s intervention. In response, AmarissaToth walked over to the ball mark and rubbed her foot on it, erasing any evidence that the ball might have hit the line.
When questioned by Shuai about her actions, AmarissaToth reportedly replied, “Because you’re making problems, that’s why.”
Despite Shuai’s efforts to continue, she faced boos from the home crowd as AmarissaToth enjoyed a home advantage being Hungarian. Overwhelmed by emotions, Shuai eventually retired from the match, shedding tears.
Amarissa Kiara Toth further expressed her confusion over Shuai’s reaction, stating, “I don’t understand why she made such a fuss, questioning the judge’s decision. I fail to comprehend why she didn’t accept it, but she brought trouble upon herself.”
Amarissa Kiara Toth‘s behavior was not well-received by her peers in the sport. Australian player Ajla Tomljanovic tweeted, “Absolutely disgusting behavior. Shuai showed immense composure by shaking the ref’s and that girl’s hands. But then again, it’s Shuai we are talking about, and of course, she did.”
Another Australian player, Ellen Perez, added, “Well, that’s a quick way to lose respect from your peers. I’m genuinely shocked by the level of disrespect from this girl.”
In the end, Amarissa Kiara Toth‘s actions did not lead her to victory, as she lost to Kateryna Baindl in the round of 16 on Thursday.